Dubois gave Kings a lift, but likely to see fewer minutes when Kopitar returns
As the Kings hurled toward a probable third consecutive playoff matchup with the Edmonton Oilers, they prepared for their penultimate game of the regular season, which will offer them a chance to sweep the season series from the Minnesota Wild. Following their 3-1 win against the Ducks Saturday, Kings interim coach Jim Hiller repeated the same thing he said in response to a question about resting captain Anze Kopitar against the Ducks (which he did) regarding Kopitar's status in Games 81 and 82. In Kopitar's stead Saturday slotted the ballyhooed offseason acquisition Pierre-Luc Dubois, in the middle of the No. 1 line and operating in a new position for him as a King, but a very familiar one for him as a Winnipeg Jet and Columbus Blue Jacket, the netfront of the top power-play unit.
