February 3 morning skate notes

Good afternoon from the media bus, which is traveling back to the team hotel from the Verizon Center. While the Capitals skated that their team’s facility in Arlington, VA, the Kings took the ice at the Verizon Center in Washington. DC at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. Notes from the skate:

Lines!

Gaborik – Kopitar – Brown
King – Carter – Toffoli
Clifford – Stoll – Williams
Lewis – Shore – Andreoff – Nolan

Muzzin – Doughty
Regehr – Martinez
McNabb – Greene
McBain

Quick
Jones

Notes!

-Perhaps Darryl Sutter wanted to inject a little bit more life or urgency in the skate, but after line rushes and while the team was participating in a drill, he loudly reminded the team, “you play how you practice” while throwing out an additional colorful word or two. It’s nothing really out of the ordinary; it’s something heard many times throughout the year at practices and morning skates. And it happened today.

-While Nick Shore went through the first rotation as part of the fourth line, he also remained on the ice for extra work while Andy Andreoff came off early. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see both take part in warm-ups; the line projections later today will most likely include Andreoff with a “B” or so level of confidence. Jamie McBain remained on for extra work, so he’s likely out tonight.

-Jonathan Quick left the ice first, so he’s expected to start in net against the Capitals.

-Tanner Pearson (broken lower fibula) is remaining with the team through the remainder of the trip and will continue to work with the club’s training staff. There is still no timetable for his return.

I asked Sutter about getting more out of Brown-Kopitar-Gaborik. His answer: "Well, maybe they've all played as well as they can."

— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) February 3, 2015

Sutter was then asked if he really believes that about Brown-Kopitar-Gaborik. His answer: "Well we're 50 games in so maybe they have."

— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) February 3, 2015

Sutter added that Brown, Kopitar and Gaborik have been good at home and not good on road. Why? "Maybe it's a depth thing," he said.

— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) February 3, 2015