At some point between the charge across the ice to thump Logan Couture of the San Jose Sharks in the season-opening game Oct. 7 and the seven-game point streak going into Thursday’s game against the New York Rangers, Milan Lucic became an indispensable part of the Kings’ lineup.

Lucic grabbed a spot on left wing by the scuff of the neck and held tight.

The Kings are better off this season for having his tenacity and skill and speed and smarts.

It was never a matter of fitting in with the Kings after an off-season trade from the Boston Bruins. There was never a period of adjustment, never a moment of hesitation or uncertainty. Or so it’s seemed as Lucic’s first season in Los Angeles has unfolded.

A seven-game point streak (three goals, six assists) was only the latest example of that undeniable fact. A goal or an assist Thursday against the Rangers would have enabled Lucic to extend his streak to a career-high eight games.

The streak also has coincided with an especially strong stretch of games for the Kings, who had only two losses in regulation play in their last 13 games before facing the Rangers in a rematch of the 2014 Stanley Cup Final. The Kings were 9-2-2 in their past 13 contests.

Lucic didn’t wish to talk to reporters Thursday, a rare day for the normally chatty Vancouver, British Columbia native. Through a Kings spokesman he said he didn’t want to speak about facing the Bruins on Saturday and preferred to focus on playing against the Rangers.

It was left to others to speak to the impact he’s had on the Pacific Division-leading Kings, now firmly entrenched in a playoff spot after missing the postseason last season after winning their second Stanley Cup championship in three seasons in 2013-14.

“I think he’s given our top end of our forward group some size and some skill and that’s never a bad thing,” Kings coach Darryl Sutter said of the 27-year-old Lucic, who had 17 goals and 45 points and a plus-22 defensive rating in 68 games before facing the Rangers.

Lucic continues to play the same kind of role he did with the Bruins.

“The difference between superstars and great players (is) guys accept roles,” Sutter said, speaking generally rather than specifically about Lucic, who is listed at 6 feet 3 and 233 pounds. “Superstars don’t.”

Lately, Lucic has played with center Anze Kopitar and right wing Jeff Carter as Sutter has put three of his top offensive threats together to form one mega-line. Kopitar had 62 points (22 goals, 40 assists) and Carter had 48 points (18 goals, 30 assists) going into Thursday’s game.

Lucic, Kopitar and Kris Versteeg played together to start Thursday’s game, however.

“First of all, a lot of guys have size but they don’t necessarily use it to their advantage, and he does,” said Kings defenseman Rob Scuderi, who has played with and against Lucic for many seasons. “It makes it very difficult to play against him.

“Because, if he does, even if you get position against him, he’s a hard body to move. He doesn’t want to go anywhere, so he’s not going anywhere. I think that’s number one. The second thing is, he’s got more skill than people give him credit for. He’s able to make some plays. He’s got good vision.”