Kopitar not focused on evolving national recognition

There was a massive contingent of local and national media at the Kings’ practice today, and before some of the traffic cleared away from his row in the dressing room, Anze Kopitar held court with reporters in Martin Jones’ stall.

Even with the heavy media presence, he spoke about the growing national perception of his style of play, and noted politely when reminded that there are still those who mispronounce his name that “It’s a hard name to pronounce, just give them the benefit of the doubt.”

Certainly drawing more notice than it had been prior to the end of the season, Kopitar’s play, backed by a Selke Trophy nomination and playoff-leading 24 points, has been one of the constant storylines throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Does the growing recognition and evolving perception concern him at all?

“Not really,” he answered. “Obviously when you get on this kind of stage, you’re going to get more exposed and then more people are going to see weakness or strengths. So far, it’s been working pretty well for me and for everybody in here. To be in this position again, or putting ourselves in this position again, in a short period of time shows that we’re doing something right and we have something special going on.”

Whether or not it’s beneficial that the team tends to fly under the radar despite its success raised the issue of the eastern-based geographical center of hockey coverage.

“I don’t think there is any secret to it. I think the west coast teams don’t get exposed as much as they do in the east. I don’t know if that can change a whole lot throughout the years too. Hopefully it will, but I don’t think anybody in here cares about that too much. We have one goal in mind, and we’re striving towards that.”

Anze Kopitar, on how he feels after an off-day:
Good, I feel good. It was a nice day yesterday to recharge a little bit and get back at it today.

Kopitar, on being prepared for the speed of New York’s wingers:
I think it’s different when somebody tells you. And then, obviously when you experience that it’s different, too. We’ve talked about it. We were getting ready for it, but it did catch us by surprise. How to guard against it? I think the biggest thing for us is to make sure we don’t give them the opportunity to use that speed. They’re obviously good players and they’re going to make plays and they’re going to get chances, but we just have to limit those that come off our mishandles, our sloppy play.

Kopitar, on the team’s play as five-man units in Game 1:
The first period was not good. There is not secret to it. After that we started playing better and now we have to build on that. Just like you said, work as a five-man unit out there and support each other and help each other.

Kopitar, on when he noticed a change in Mike Richard’s game:
As soon as the playoffs came around. He definitely knows how to win. This time of the year, that’s what you need. Mike has brought to the table on many occasions different ways, whether it was winning faceoffs, whether it was killing penalties, he scored a huge goal in Anaheim, and now he’s making plays. It’s great for us for him to do that.

Kopitar, on his offensive production in the postseason:
I think Darryl will be the first one to tell you that we need to take care of defense, the offensive chances come. You just play whatever it goes and you try to take care of your own zone and when it’s there you have to make plays. For us, I think the best thing is to keep the puck in the offensive zone and that’s what we want to do. I don’t want to play defense and I don’t want to play in my zone. But if we do have the puck, they don’t have it and it’s obviously much more fun for us and we’re more effective that way.