LOS ANGELES — Jack Jablonski’s new internship with the Kings means he distributes statistics, transcribes quotes and, after games, records interviews with NHL players.

Friday, that meant doing so alongside friends and supporters.

As the Wild visited the Kings at Staples Center, Jablonski, paralyzed from the chest down during a Benilde-St. Margaret’s junior varsity hockey game in December 2011, worked behind the scenes, his third game as a communications intern with the two-time Stanley Cup champions.

And, he admitted, his third game was a bit more special, watching the Wild players he now considers friends — Zach Parise, Ryan Suter, Thomas Vanek and Jason Zucker among them — play.

“It’s super fun,” Jablonski said of his new gig. “It’s nice being back around the hockey rink, especially in a NHL atmosphere.”

Jablonski, who is in his second semester at the nearby University of Southern California, got an in with the Kings when Benilde-St. Margaret’s hockey coach Ken Pauly introduced him to Kelly Cheeseman, who played hockey for Pauly in high school and is now the chief operating officer of the Kings.

The internship adds another responsibility for Jablonski who is majoring in communications with a minor in sports studies at USC, pledging a fraternity and attending seven hours of rehab each week.

“A lot of late nights and early mornings,” he said. “A lot of busy times. It’s fun though. It’s worth it.

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While he said he missed the hockey scene in Minnesota, Jablonski said he’s enjoying his new life in Southern California and remains optimistic that medical advancements could help him walk one day.

“At this point, it’s about getting strong physically so that you’re ready for those next medical advances that are soon to be and hopefully around the corner,” he said. “So far there’s been a lot of positive feedback.”

Like many college freshmen, Jablonski said “I’m not sure what I want to do when I get older,” but added he’d like to remain in hockey, part of why this new internship is helpful.

“I’m learning a lot about what goes on behind the scenes to put on a production of a NHL game,” he said.

TRASH TALK

In the Wild’s 4-3 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday, Coyotes forward Steve Downie, a well-known agitator, was in rare form, even for him.

He accumulated 14 penalty minutes in the game, 10 for a game misconduct penalty when he jabbed Wild forward Ryan Carter from the bench.

What set off Downie?

A bit of trash talk from Suter, the Wild defenseman admitted.

Last season, Suter was suspended two games for an elbowing infraction. Suter felt Downie, then on the Penguins, flopped on the play, partly causing the suspension.

So when Downie skated to Suter in the first period of Thursday’s game and said, “You owe me for last year,” Suter quipped right back.

“I said, ‘You owe me a lot of money for diving last year,’ ” Suter, who forfeited $81,058.72 for the suspension, said. “That’s probably what made him mad.

“He’s just trying to get under your skin. He’s good at it. He could be a really good player, but he chooses to go that way.”

SHORT WAIT

Vanek didn’t have to wait too long to celebrate his 300th career goal.

After scoring what he thought was the milestone mark Saturday in the Wild’s season opener (on a goal that was eventually credited to Charlie Coyle), Vanek scored in the Wild’s next game Thursday.

“To me, the most disappointing part was not being able to say thank you to the fans,” Vanek said. “That ovation was something I’ll always remember. I guess it’s five days late, but thanks to them. It was a nice moment even though it didn’t count at the time.”

BRIEFLY

Christian Folin entered the Wild lineup, taking Nate Prosser‘s spot from Thursday as the sixth defenseman. … Because of a computer glitch, ice times, shot attempts and other statistics weren’t accurately logged by the NHL in the Wild’s Thursday game in Arizona, and it remained unclear whether the league would fix the incorrect stats.