Halpern settling in

Jeff Halpern, acquired last week from Tampa Bay for Teddy Purcell and a third-round draft pick, saw his most extensive action as a King last night, as he played 11 minutes, 50 seconds. Halpern played on the penalty kill again and, for the first time as a King, played on the power play (2:10).

Halpern is having to deal, for the second time in the last three seasons, with a midseason trade. In 2008, he went from Dallas to Tampa Bay. Here’s what Halpern said about his transition to the Kings…

Question: Getting to spend a few days in your new home, in L.A., has that helped you settle in a little bit?

HALPERN: “Yeah, just to try to get on a schedule and a routine. It was kind of hectic, flying into Nashville and then flying back (to L.A.), so every day I’m feeling a lot more comfortable.”

Question: To come here and be right in the thick of a playoff race, does that give you a little extra boost?

HALPERN: “Even in Tampa, too. Right up to the break, we were in the thick of the playoffs, so it’s been an exciting year. Every game seems like a playoff game, and every game sort of feels like a do-or-die situation. To jump into this organization, the only difference is that you’ve been bumped up a few points in the standings, but the games still have a playoff-like feel to them. That’s the fun part of playing, when the games are so important.”

Question: You played some right wing this season? Up on the first line in Tampa with Lecavalier?

HALPERN: “This season, I did. In previous years, just a little bit here and there, but this year I played quite a bit. We rotated. I played with Vinny some and we had some different centers.”

Question: Safe to say that you’d be pretty comfortable wherever the Kings put you?

HALPERN: “Yeah, definitely.”