Williams back with reunited first line

Justin Williams is one of the players the younger Kings can look toward for stability and playoff know-how. Not only was Williams on the Kings’ top players in the final quarter of the season, but he won the Stanley Cup with Carolina in 2006 and has played the third-most playoff games (51) among active Kings. Williams, formerly tagged as injury-prone, made it through all 82 regular-season games and will now be reunited with Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown on the first line. That line had success together after the Kings acquired Jeff Carter, and the line was broken up during the final five games of the regular season when Carter was hurt. Now, they’re back together.

WILLIAMS: “I think we all help each other. We took a little break there in the last week of the season (because of Carter’s injury). Kopi, Brownie and myself are feeling good about ourselves right now. We’re going to have to have a big impact on the series if we’re going to win.’’

Williams was also asked about moving to “playoff mode,’’ and the idea that the Kings, who were basically fighting for a playoff spot all season, aren’t strangers to important games this season…

WILLIAMS: “Being in a playoff mode, it’s got its advantages and its disadvantages. You want to playing well going into the playoffs, which we have been. Whereas if you’re set in a playoff position, you’re able to rest guys. I like our position right here, where we’re at. The hardest part is getting in. There’s no stats anymore. It has certainly helped the younger guys, knowing what it takes, but it’s only going to get harder. Just getting in is hard, and now it’s going to start to get even harder.’’

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