December 20 postgame quotes: Kopitar, McBain, Lewis

Anze Kopitar, on whether the team was proud of its 60-minute effort:
Yeah, I think so. I think we came out pretty good – dictating the tempo – other than yeah, I guess, a couple of deflections. It could easily go south in a hurry after those two goals. But we stuck together and got it really done on the power play, and I thought our penalty killing was pretty solid tonight too, and that’ll win you games.

Kopitar, on whether there has been any difference on the power play recently:
I can’t tell you. I mean, I don’t know. We’re moving the puck good and we’re getting some good looks, obviously. A couple of bounces here and there, it’s nice to get. We’re able to score right now.

Kopitar, on whether the overall performance was improved from the St. Louis game:
The special teams – most importantly, penalty killing – came out huge today. Even in the third period, they were chasing us. I don’t think we gave up a shot on that last PK, so that’s obviously a good thing. But we’re going to have to keep on doing that. That’s the bottom line.

Kopitar, on the success he’s found with Marian Gaborik and Jeff Carter:
It’s nice. I think every guy will tell you it’s nice when you build a little bit of a chemistry and you somewhat know where the guys are going to be on the ice. It makes it easier, but I think the big thing, too, is coming out of our zone and really making sure we support each other pretty good, and that’s why we can get some open looks in the O-zone. It starts a little ways away from the offensive zone, but once we’re in there, it seems like we’ve been moving the puck pretty well and getting open for each other.

Jamie McBain, on what he saw on the play that led up to Marian Gaborik’s goal:
D-to-D. An option for me is the shot first. Otherwise, I have Kopi in the middle and I have Gaborik far side. I noticed that the middle of the ice was open for Kopi, and then he made a great play to Gabby to get a goal.

McBain, on whether the team was proud of its 60-minute effort:
Yeah, absolutely. I think we set out to have a great start and to establish our forecheck, and I think twe did that, especially on that first goal, causing the turnover and scores. We had an unlucky bounce in the second where they took the lead, but I think we stayed the course and we kept at it and we were eventually rewarded.

McBain, on whether it feels good to record two points in his first game back in the lineup:
Yeah, it feels good. I mean, again, my job’s easy when I get to just make plays to guys like Kopi and Gabby and Carts out there. Again, it’s just coming down to trying to stay sharp to make sure that whenever my name is called, I come into the lineup and be productive.

Trevor Lewis, on whether he was happy with the 60-minute performance:
Yeah, I think we did well. I think we checked well and [were] being quick out of our zone and creating offense. Hopefully we can sustain that and keep that going.

Lewis, on whether this was a performance the team can build on:
I think coming out of our last game, we built on that with the emotion and intensity and brought it out here again tonight. Like I said, I think when we checked well we’re a good team.

Lewis, on whether the team’s defense is leading to offensive chances:
I think so. I think when you’re quick out of your zone, you’re a lot fresher in the offensive zone and you’ve always got more energy when you have the puck than when you don’t have it.

Lewis, on whether Jonathan Quick’s save on David Moss’ shorthanded breakaway set the tone:
Quickie’s been doing it for how many years now? He makes those big saves for us and it really gets the bench up and everyone going and we want to battle hard for him and came right back and scored some big goals.

Lewis, on his breakaway attempt and the goal he scored later:
He made a great play on that. I knew he was coming and he was going to dive, but he got all puck there. It was a good play. It felt good. Toff made a good play there. Gabby took a hit and I was sitting there in front and got a tap in. So it’s nice.