Anze Kopitar with Kings on trip; Carter named NHL’s first star of week

The Kings are off to Philadelphia ... and center Anze Kopitar is with them as they start a five-game trip.

Kopitar, their leading scorer for the last seven seasons, was injured in the second period of Sunday’s 5-2 win over Columbus at Staples Center and did not return to action. The team characterized his ailment as an upper-body injury.

“Nothing serious but gonna be careful too,” Kings Coach Darryl Sutter said via email on Monday morning.

Sutter said they would know more about Kopitar’s status on Tuesday. The Kings, who have won six straight games, play Philadelphia on Tuesday night and have been sparked by their top line of Tanner Pearson-Jeff Carter-Tyler Toffoli.

Reflecting that was an NHL honor announced on Monday: Carter was named the league’s first star of the week for his production in the last two games, two goals and six points. He tied a career high with four points against his former team, the Blue Jackets, and established a career high with three assists in that game.

This season, Carter and his linemates, Toffoli and Pearson are responsible for 16 of the Kings’ 21 goals (that does not include shootouts) and have combined for a plus-32 rating.