Saddled with a big workload, Quick was ridden hard and it seemed to take its toll when he finished the regular season 1-3-3 over his final seven decisions.

 

“I felt at the time I was physically and mentally ready for what was about to take place,” Quick said of last season. “(But) obviously it was my first time through it and you come to find out that maybe you could have been prepared a little bit better.

 

“But going into now – this is my second time through it – I do notice I do feel a bit better this year than I did last year.”

 

Along with a push from backup Jonathan Bernier, preparation has taken some pressure off Quick, who says he’s refreshed for the season’s final 10 games. Last season Quick played his 52nd game on Feb. 4. His 52nd game this season came in Saturday’s 2-1 overtime loss to rival Anaheim.

 

It was Quick’s second straight loss but probably not a concern in the bigger picture. Kings head coach Terry Murray has planned for Quick to be better equipped, mentally and physically, for the postseason.

 

“That’s been the purpose of going about business the way we have with both goaltenders and splitting the most recent games,” Murray said. “The game today has a very demanding schedule that seems to be more compressed than ever, and every game is such an important game.

 

“I think if you put that kind of workload on a young goaltender, as I did last year, it becomes a little too demanding.”

 

Quick played in 72 games last season but is on pace for 59 thanks to the emergence of Bernier, who has clearly proved capable of more responsibility as he took a 5-0-3 record over his past eight starts into Monday.

 

“I think we have a good balance now,” teammate Anze Kopitar said. “It’s going to benefit him (Quick) and us in the long run.”

 

Quick entered Monday tied with Roberto Luongo for third in the NHL with a 2.23 goals-against average. He was 2-2-1 over his past five starts, including a horrific performance against St. Louis last Thursday. The Kings haven’t exactly given him offensive support with only seven goals scored in those decisions.

 

With 11 games to go starting with Monday’s contest against Calgary, Quick and the Kings will find out if his adjusted role will pay dividends.

 

“The workload has been down a bit this year for me,” Quick said. “Your whole approach is a little bit different. You’re kind of building yourself up to this time of the season. Personally, and as a team, I know we’re looking forward to this last little stretch.”

San Jose should count its blessings if the lower-body injury suffered by Calder Trophy favorite Logan Couture isn’t serious. Couture, who crashed into the end boards legs first against St. Louis, wrote on his Twitter account that it “isn’t as bad as it looked or first felt.” … Dallas also got dinged: LW Loui Eriksson is also day-to-day with a lower-body injury thanks to an open-ice hit courtesy of San Jose D Douglas Murray … Dave Tippett has to get consideration for the Jack Adams Trophy for coach of the year for keeping Phoenix in playoff position despite numerous injuries and the jettison of offensive players Scottie Upshall and Wojtek Wolski. No Coyotes player has scored 20 goals, but 10 players are double-digit goal scorers … Kopitar broke a Kings record by playing in his 325th straight game, which broke the mark held by Marcel Dionne from 1978 to 1982 … Former Kings and Sharks captain Rob Blake, and Anaheim GM Bob Murray, were named to the management staff for Team Canada in the World Championships that begin April 29 in Slovakia.

 

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