In a story reported earlier on MayorsManor, the Kings are in the process of making a series of roster moves – including putting Jeff Carter on the injured list, then calling up both Tyler Toffoli and Linden Vey from Manchester.
Following the team’s practice this morning in El Segundo, here’s what Anze Kopitar had to say about things…
On changes in the Kings recent play, especially the forecheck:
“I’ve said it all along, I think part of our forecheck success is definitely managing the puck through the neutral zone. When we are strong with the puck- it’s maybe not necessarily forechecking, because we get a lot of position entries. But when we do have to chip it in, first of all you have to chip it into a spot where the goalie can’t play it and you get a chance to get it back. It’s not just put it in to put it in and go nuts. It’s the position of the puck where you have to put it to get it back. Then going back in the neutral zone. When we support each other, even though we chip the puck in, we get it back.”
On breaking out of the zone quicker:
“Everything is connected. There ins’t one particular area that you can just be good at and average at the other stuff. Everything is connected, so again, it’s the full package. When something goes wrong- for example, if you can’t get out of your own zone, there is no other way but looking back there instead of looking ahead. It is what it is.”
On Tyler Toffoli and Linden Vey coming up with Jeff Carter out:
“First of all, it’s tough to see Carts go down, that’s an obviously thing. Now, Tyler and Linden coming up, they’ve been here long enough in training camp where they know what’s going on. They’ve been to Vegas games, where we pretty much have the full squad going. They’re going to get a shot at it right now. It’s no better time to come in and prove everybody that they belong here. It’s going to be fun to see, them coming up and playing with us and hopefully help us.”
More notes and quotes from today’s Kings practice can be found via the links below.
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