"The Kings lost a game Thursday but dodged a far more dire fate.

Center Anze Kopitar, helped off the ice at 12:12 of the third period of what became a 5-4 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars at Staples Center, had a bloody nose and sore neck and shoulder and will be monitored Friday. However, General Manager Dean Lombardi said Kopitar's injuries were not as serious as they initially appeared.

"He should be fine," Coach Darryl Sutter said, a bloody nose and sore neck being all in a day's work for him in his playing and farming days."