March 12 practice quotes: Kopitar, Muzzin

Anze Kopitar, on developing chemistry with Marian Gaborik:
I think it’s coming along. I think we’ve had some chances over the course of the last two games. We didn’t connect on any yet, but I’m sure that’s going to come soon.

Kopitar, on adjustments other teams make because of Gaborik’s presence:
Well, I can definitely notice they’re careful of his speed. In that regard, maybe their right D is backing off just a little big, giving us a couple extra feet, which is always nice on the ice. He’s making the little plays in the offensive zone that turn into pretty good scoring chances. I think everybody was expecting him to do that too, and he certainly brought that to the table, but I think there’s still more to be done within our line.

Kopitar, on three of the last four game-winners being scored on the power play, and whether the team approaches power plays late in tied games any differently:
No, we always try to score. I mean, it doesn’t matter if we’re up one, we’re down two. It doesn’t matter…We’re just trying to work on it and build on momentum – if not score, build a good momentum for us to go forward. I guess scoring three out of four game winners [on the power play], it’s a pretty nice stat, too, but you’ve got to keep it going. You can’t be stuck with that.

Jake Muzzin, on the percentage of his friends that were Maple Leafs fans:
Every one. [Reporter: Every single one?] And maybe the odd Montreal fan.

Muzzin, on Maple Leafs fanaticism in Woodstock, Ontario:
Oh yeah. Everything was about the Leafs. You wanted to be either Felix Potvin in net or Dougie Gilmour on the ice, or Mats Sundin, or one of those guys.

Muzzin, on being a Doug Gilmour fan when he was younger:
Yeah, Dougie was one, and obviously when you played road hockey, when you got in net, you were Felix Potvin. We always had the Felix Potvin mask, and the blocker and trapper was a combo set that everyone had. [Reporter: He’s one of the best goalies in this team’s history, too.] I guess so, eh? Quickie’s pretty good, too.

Muzzin, on developing chemistry with Alec Martinez on the power play:
Well, I think we were shooting the puck a little more, and maybe it’s opening up, giving us a little bit more time. But for the most part, keep it simple. The other group, they’re doing the same. We’re getting some production on the power play, which is nice. We can continue, actually, getting more pucks to the net and more bodies to the net, I think, on the power play, but for the most part it’s been good.