Brown is huge fan of Kopitar

Not only did the Kings’ Dustin Brown score, but there was the optimal view at Staples Center of the way Anze Kopitar undid St. Louis Blues goalie Manny Legace late in the first period on Saturday.

“I’ll take 30 of those this year,” Brown said Tuesday at practice.

Well, No. 1 of those 30, courtesy of the skating highlight reel, was vintage Kopitar, a blend of speed and timing as he held his nerve to pull Legace out and then waited just long enough to slide the puck through the crease to a waiting Brown.

“I’ve had a few goals just like that, not necessarily open nets, but just going to the net,” Brown said. “I know the puck is either going to get to me on the pass or rebound with him. He has a lot of speed and I’m just trying to get myself in the open area.”

Brown used to get fooled by his linemate. But he won’t again.

“You just sit back and watch him,” said Brown. “Sometimes you think he’s making the wrong play and it ends up being the right play. He has that knack for creating things. He turns something that doesn’t look like anything into something great.

“You want to play with a player like that. He has a lot of confidence, which helps him create a lot of that offense.”

It’s early. But it doesn’t mean everyone is showing their hand.

Coach Marc Crawford said he has selected his starting goalie for tonight’s game and told him so. Jason LaBarbera and rookie Jonathan Bernier said otherwise. “You probably know more than I do,” LaBarbera said.

Maybe Bernier learned something from buddy David Perron of the Blues, who called ahead of Saturday’s game to say he would play against the Kings. Perron ended up a healthy scratch.

The dental adventure of Patrick O’Sullivan, who took a puck in the mouth on Saturday, is a continuing saga. “It wasn’t so bad,” he said of Monday’s visit to the dentist. “Next week I have to go back in. I guess it’s really inflamed and swollen right now, so they can’t do a lot.”

TONIGHT

at Dallas, 5:30 PDT, FSN West

Radio -- 1150.

Site -- American Airlines Center.

Records -- Kings 1-2-0, Stars 1-2-0.

Record vs. Stars (2006-07) -- 0-6-2.

Update -- Talk about old-home week. There are former Kings in the Stars’ front office (former player and GM Dave Taylor), behind the bench (Coach Dave Tippett and assistant Rick Wilson) and players (defensemen Philippe Boucher and Mattias Norstrom). Meanwhile, Stars center Mike Modano is closing in on Phil Housley’s mark of 1,232 for most career points by an American-born player.

lisa.dillman@latimes.com