LOS ANGELES – After three consecutive losses on home ice to start the season, veteran Anze Kopitar called out his teammates, calling them "soft" after a 3-0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday.
"We're not doing the things we need to do to get the chances and the shots that are quality chances," said Kopitar. "Whether that's not coming in with possession, whether that's not coming in the way we should I just think we're playing too soft to get the pucks back."
Three days later, Kopitar put his money where his mouth was. The Kings alternate captain scored the game-winning goal in overtime as the Kings avoided their first 0-4 start in their 48 year history with a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Thursday at Staples Center.
Kopitar's teammates clearly responded to remarks that they were soft as a summer peach, and proved on the ice that they could be cold, calculated and hard as steel when focused and energized.
"For us I thought our game as a full 60-minute effort was much better," said new Kings forward Milan Lucic. "We were able to extablish more zone time, we were better through the neutral zone, and we were better supporting each other."
Lucic recorded his first point in a Kings uniform in the second period when he assisted on a Tyler Toffoli power play goal with 1:13 remaining.
Toffoli's goal ended an 0-for-14 streak on the power play to start the season for LA, and gave them their first lead since the opening minutes of the home opener against San Jose.
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The Kings 0-3 start to the season was the worst start since 1969, and thanks to Kopitar, they were able to avoid the worst start in franchise history.
Kopitar and the rest of the veterans on the Kings who won the Stanley Cup in 2012 and 2014 have been criticized lately as they have struggled trying to build chemistry with the new additions on the team.
"Our leaders haven't played good enough hockey," defenseman Drew Doughty said. "When your leaders aren't playing well, then the young guys who don't have a lot of experience, they don't know the way to go. So that's what we have to change."
Thankfully, Kopitar led by example throughout the game, and in the team's first ever 3-on-3 overtime session of the new season. The Slovenian skater provided the change in effort and mentality that the team needed to get in the win column.
"Kopi can play with anybody," Kings head coach Darryl Sutter said. "Kopi's just good. That's it. But when guys aren't going with Kopi, then he's doing all the work."
The Kings will look to continue their momentum on Sunday night at Staples Center against the Colorado Avalanche. To do so, they will need more consistency from Kopitar who has averaged nearly a point per game in his 685 career appearances on the ice.
Meanwhile, Kings captain Dustin Brown 806th career game, passing Rob Blake (805) for fourth on the all-time list.
