Janecyk Helps Streaking Kings Defeat Whalers

Goalie Bob Janecyk and the Kings are on a roll.

With Janecyk starting his third consecutive games, the Kings came from behind to defeat the Hartford Whalers, 5-3, Thursday night before a Forum crowd of 10,218.

The Kings (22-20-9) have won three straight, their longest winning streak since the middle of December.

King Coach Pat Quinn had rotated Janecyk with goalie Darren Eliot earlier this season, but he has done away with the rotation--for now, anyway--because Janecyk is playing well.

“Bobby was really sharp tonight,” Quinn said. “He showed real confidence.

Janecyk, who made 29 saves, was particularly sharp in the early going as he kept the Kings in the game.

The Whalers had two power plays early in the second period, but the Kings held them scoreless. Janecyk was involved in an altercation with Whaler right wing Bob Crawford after Crawford smashed into him in the crease.

“Our penalty killing was great tonight,” Janecyk said. “It could have been the difference.”

Janecyk said he hasn’t changed his game at all during his hot streak.

“I don’t think I’m doing anything different,” he said. “It’s just a whole team effort. Both Darren (Eliot) and I have been playing well. It just so happens that I’ve got a streak going.”

The Whalers held Marcel Dionne and right wing Dave Taylor scoreless, but centers Bernie Nicholls and Bob Miller and left wing Steve Shutt picked up the slack.

Nicholls scored his 31st goal of the season and had one assist. Miller and Shutt had one goal and one assist apiece. Right wing Jim Fox had two assists.

Hartford goalie Greg Millen had started the last 22 games, but the Whalers gave him a rest, starting Steve Weeks.

Weeks recently was recalled from the minors, where he compiled a 5-0-0 record with Binghampton of the American Hockey League. He had played in seven games with the Whalers before being sent down. He was beaten, 9-3, by Montreal in his last start Dec. 3.

The Whalers played a good second period and outshot the Kings, 16-6. Even so, they were outscored, 2-1, in the period.

“It’s frustrating,” Hartford Coach Jack Evans said. “I thought we played a pretty good game, but the breakdowns cost us.”

The Kings started slowly, falling behind 1-0 when defenseman Jay Wells tipped a shot by Hartford defenseman Joel Quenneville into his own net at 9:42 of the first period. Quenneville was credited with an unassisted goal on the play.

However, Phil Sykes, the Kings’ rookie left wing, scored his 14th goal of the season when he tipped in a shot by Garry Galley to tie the score at 1-1 with three minutes left in the period.

The Whalers took a 2-1 lead at 6:28 of the second period on a goal by center Ron Francis.

However, the Kings scored three unanswered goals in the second and third periods to take command of the game.

“We were lucky to get out of the second period leading,” Quinn said. “They (the Whalers) played a very good game, bumping and grinding us in the corners.”

Shutt scored his 14th goal of the season on a power play to tie the score at 2-2 with 10:05 left in the second period.

“This may not have been a great looking game, but it was the type of game we have to win,” Shutt said. “I thought we played pretty well.”

The Kings took a 3-2 lead when Miller tipped in a shot by left wing John Paul Kelly with 3:04 left in the second period.

King captain Terry Ruskowski scored a power-play goal 2:10 into the third period to give the Kings a 4-2 lead.

The Whalers closed it to 4-3 at 5:26 of the third period on a goal by center Greg Malone.

Nicholls closed out the scoring at 7:20.

Notes

The Whalers lost right wing Bob Crawford in the second period when he injured his right knee. “It doesn’t require surgery,” Hartford Coach Jack Evans said. “But they are going to send him home and let our doctor look at him.” . . . The Kings outshot the Whalers, 36-32. . . . Serge Savard, the Montreal Canadiens’ general manager, watched the game from the press box. The Kings play the Canadiens Saturday night at the Forum. Montreal (25-16-10) leads the Adams Division. The Kings are 0-1-1 against the Canadiens this season.