Kopitar continues to impress

There will come a day this season when the Kings’ Anze Kopitar resembles a rookie. Maybe.

That has yet to happen through 62 games, as the 19-year-old continues to impress teammates and opponents.

“It’s pretty to watch,” the Ducks’ Teemu Selanne said. “If someone told me to go play [in the NHL] when I was 19, I would have said, ‘No way.’ He plays like a 10 years veteran. It’s great to see. He is a good example for all the young players too.”

High praise, considering Kopitar has hurt the Ducks repeatedly this season. He had two goals against them in his NHL debut. In five games between the two teams this season, Kopitar has three goals and eight points.

“I thought he was our best player on the ice tonight,” Coach Marc Crawford said. “It was good to see him elevate his game against this type of competition.”

What makes Kopitar a candidate for the Calder Trophy is the completeness of his game. He is a key element on the power play, where he has 18 of his team-high 37 assists. Kopitar helped set up two power-play goals in a 4-3 shootout victory Sunday. He is also one of the Kings’ more effective penalty killers.

Kopitar has done all that while handling a coast-to-coast NHL schedule without showing fatigue.

“I have played 70-80 games a season the last couple years, when you include the national team games,” Kopitar said.

“Really, I didn’t do anything different in preparing. I did work out a little more last summer because I knew I was coming here. I wanted to be ready when I got my chance to be in the NHL.”

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Kings defenseman Mattias Norstrom tried to skate briefly Sunday morning but was unable to play against the Ducks because of a sprained knee, according to Crawford.

Norstrom was injured during the first period against the Ducks on Saturday, when Chris Kunitz checked him into the boards.

Crawford said Norstrom may be ready to play “by the end of the week.”

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Michael Cammalleri had a goal and two assists in Sunday’s victory, his 15th multiple-point game of the season. Cammalleri has 11 goals and 26 points in the last 19 games.

“It’s unbelievable how dangerous he is out there,” Kopitar said. “He was dancing around everyone today.”

Kopitar, sitting next to Cammalleri in the dressing room, smiled, said, “If only he would work hard in the defensive end.”

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The Ducks haven’t been able to fill their need for a winger to play among the top six forwards and one of their potential targets might be scratched off their wish list before the Feb. 27 trade deadline.

Veteran left wing Fredrik Modin is close to signing a multiyear contract extension with Columbus, according to a report in Sunday’s Columbus Dispatch.

The Ducks are also believed to be closely looking at St. Louis forwards Keith Tkachuk and Bill Guerin.

General Manager Brian Burke was traveling from the East Coast and was unavailable for comment.

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Ducks center Todd Marchant sat out Sunday’s game because of a strained stomach muscle and will undergo an MRI exam today to determine the extent of the injury. Marchant hurt himself in the third period Saturday.

Marchant said he had been feeling some discomfort in that area but nothing severe enough to keep him out of the lineup.

chris.foster@latimes.com

eric.stephens@latimes.com