Kopitar, on the first line

Not that Anze Kopitar’s importance to the Kings needs to be stated, but there’s this… The Kings have a 13-5 record when Kopitar records at least one point, and an 0-3-2 record when Kopitar is kept off the score sheet. Here’s what Kopitar said today about the importance of maintaining the first line’s strong play with Ryan Smyth out of action…

(on making the adjustment from Smyth to Frolov on the first line…)
KOPITAR: “They’re different players. Maybe we need a couple of games to get used to it, but not too long, of course. I think Fro is more of a corner guy, and Smytty is more of a net-front guy and a behind-the-net guy. So you definitely have to adjust to that. That’s going to change me and Willie a little bit. We have to get to the net a little more often. With Smytty before, he was there all the time, so we didn’t have to worry about that, but now we’re going to have to crash a couple more times a game and just get to used to it.”

(on the need for Frolov to adjust, as well…)
KOPITAR: “Yeah, absolutely. It’s not just us. He’s really strong around the net. When he protects the puck, I don’t think I’ve seen better from any player in the league. When he sticks his (butt) out, it’s just a matter of getting open and getting ready to shoot.”

(on Frolov needing to shoot more often…)
KOPITAR: “He had one shot. I think I had six. It all equals out. In some cases, I have two shots and he’s got five. It’s just depends on the game, who’s got the puck more in the corner, but with Fro, we all know he protects the puck so well and likes to dish it off, so I don’t think that’s a big concern for him. There were a couple of plays where the puck just bounced over his stick. I don’t think that’s a big concern for him.”