Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar is getting plenty of encouragement from the home front as the Kings gear up for their playoff clash with the Edmonton Oilers. His wife, Ines, recently lit up Instagram with a heartfelt story post featuring the couple, capturing Anze and Ines together, with her wearing a beaming smile.
But that wasn't all from Ines’ Instagram adventure. She also shared a snapshot of Anze suited up in his full Los Angeles Kings gear, ready for action. Yet, the most heartwarming moment was a sweet clip of their children, Neza and Jakob, having a sing-along and groove session in the backseat of a car.
The Kings and Oilers have tangoed before in the playoffs, with Edmonton having the upper hand in recent matchups. They've knocked out Los Angeles in three consecutive postseason encounters. However, this year, the Kings have a fresh card up their sleeve—the home-ice advantage—as they aim for victory.
The action kicks off with Game 1 in Los Angeles on Monday, followed by Game 2 on Wednesday, setting the stage for this anticipated face-off.
Anze Kopitar is optimistic about the Kings’ "home-ice advantage" this time around. Edmonton has historically been a tough nut to crack, having gradually reduced the number of games needed to take down Los Angeles in previous series.
In 2022, Edmonton clawed through a full seven-game marathon to advance. The following year, they tightened it up, ending the series in six games.
And last year, Edmonton eliminated Los Angeles in just five games, showcasing their persistent dominance.
Yet, this time, Kopitar feels a shift in the air, largely due to home advantage. "Going into the playoffs I would say so because we have home-ice advantage.
We feel in the locker room that we're a better team than we have been in the past," said Kopitar. He reflects on their past encounters, saying, "Looking back at the past series, I think the first year we played them we were the better team and I think we should have beat them.
I think everybody is pretty confident in how we're playing right now, and it feels like we're a better team than we have been in the past."
Kopitar's performance remains solid, wrapping up the season after playing 81 games, tallying 46 assists and scoring 67 points. With those stats and a bolstered Kings team, he’s ready to flip the script in this year’s showdown.
