Kopitar fields Blackhawks questions

On whether the key to the series is trying to slow Chicago’s up-tempo game:
“No, not really. I mean, like I said, our game plan’s not going to change. We’re still going to try and play our game. Yeah, there are some subtle adjustments, but we’ll do that as we go along. But the majority of the game plan and the style of play that we should play or when we play it that makes us successful, it’s not going to change.”

On Chicago’s team speed:
“Yeah, I guess they don’t have lots of big forwards, but they do have speedy forwards. So, yeah, that’s definitely one of their strengths, and they want to play to their strengths. But at the same time, we want to play to our strengths, and we’ll see how everything turns out.”

On Chicago’s penalty kill, which enters the series 40-for-41 in the postseason:
“Well, they have lots of shot blockers back there. Their goalie’s been playing well. Those two are a pretty good combo for a successful penalty kill. So we’re going to have to miss some legs and try to get it past Crawford.”

On lining up opposite Jonathan Toews:
“It’s not going to be any different. I’ve lined up against some pretty good players thus far, and it’s not going to be anything different. Again, it’s going out there, perform to your best and leave it all out there and we’ll see what happens.”

On whether playing “the body” is the biggest advantage against Chicago:
“I think that’s our style of play, anyways. We try to be as physical as we can. There’s no secret in the playoffs. You try to take some bodies, and you try to wear some bodies down, and that’s what we’re going to try and do.”