February 16 postgame quotes: Kopitar, Kempe

Anze Kopitar, on LA allowing 18 goals in the last four games:
I mean, it’s just too many and the majority of them are coming off our mistakes, pretty significant mistakes, and that’s what’s killing us right now.

Kopitar, on the feeling after coming back from the bye week:
I mean, you feel behind by a couple early and then you’re chasing the game so like I said, we’ve just got to play better. I mean, the first two goals we gave up, it’s a power play goal. We’re talking about the special teams are always important against this team and we lost that battle and the second one it was just, it was almost like a stuff play off a goal line that somehow squeaks in and when you’re down two you’re trying to push the envelope as much as you can and then obviously because you’re doing that there’s some chances the other way and they were able to capitalize on those.

Kopitar, on losing to team towards the bottom of the standings:
Well the way the standings are right now, we’ve got to win majority of the games. It doesn’t matter if they’re the bottom of the standings or top of the standings. We need the points and that’s what we’re focusing on.

Kopitar, on Adrian Kempe’s game:
He’s got wheels. I mean, he showed it out there. I think obviously for him it being the first game he’s got to feel a bit more comfortable in the next few games I’m assuming but he can skate, definitely. He can make plays so I think he’ll be fine.

Adrian Kempe, on how he would characterize his NHL debut:
Well, for me I think I played all right. You know, first period I was a little bit nervous. Just try go out there and play hard and everything and I think after a couple of shifts I got in to it and I think over 60 minutes I did a pretty good game but it’s always tough when you lose so we wanted really badly to win this game.

Kempe, on what his biggest adjustment:
I don’t know, I mean, it’s a fast game and I think that fits me pretty good so I mean, first couple of shifts I was just feeling it a little bit and then I think after that I got in to it pretty fast. I liked the speed and everything else, I tried to use my speed as much as I could, too, so I think that was good.

Kempe, on whether the coaches had him make any adjustments:
Well we talked before the game, too, about loose puck battles and puck possession and things like that so I tried to get in hard on their D-men and win some pucks down there and I think that’s why they told me between periods, too. I think I tried to do that more. [Reporter: Anything on the defensive side of the puck?] No, not really.

Kempe, on playing with Anze Kopitar:
Well obviously it’s making it easier one way because he’s such an amazing player and I just tried to skate and keep my stick on the ice and he made a lot of room for me out there tonight and I think he’s a great player and it was easy to play with him.