Kings Win in Overtime on $50 Goal, 5-4 : Sykes, Dionne Cash In on Lukowich’s Bonus as Red Wings Fall

Recently acquired right wing Morris Lukowich of the Kings said he would give $50 to the teammate who scored the winning goal in Thursday night’s game against the Detroit Red Wings.

It looked as if Lukowich would be keeping his money after the Kings gave up four straight second-period goals and fell behind, 4-1, going into the third period.

However, they scored four consecutive goals and beat the Red Wings, 5-4, in overtime before 16,287 fans at the Joe Louis Arena.

Phil Sykes scored the game-winner with 1:01 left in the five-minute overtime period when he tipped in a shot by center Marcel Dionne in a scramble in front of the net. It was Sykes’ third goal of the season.

Dionne, who had a season-high four assists, slid the puck toward the net with his skate, and Sykes beat Red Wing goalie Greg Stefan.

Lukowich, who scored his first goal in three games as a King to start the third-period comeback, handed Sykes a crisp $50 bill after the game.

Sykes gave it to Dionne for safekeeping, saying he would buy his teammates a round of drinks after the game. But actually, Sykes thought that Dionne was the one who scored the goal. “It was already across the line when the light went on,” Sykes said. “(Brian MacLellan) got the puck to Marcel, and he put it in.”

Said Dionne: “The puck was in front of the net, and it was a scramble--and he (Stefan) couldn’t do anything.”

Stefan and the Red Wings argued that Dionne had kicked the puck into the net.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a longer kick,” Detroit Coach Harry Neale said after watching a TV replay of the goal after the game.

The Kings have a 5-13-1 record, while the Red Wings, who have lost two straight, are 4-11-4.

Goalie Darren Eliot had a shaky second period but otherwise played well, making a good save on a shot by Ron Duguay in overtime, as the Kings won the opener of a three-game trip. Eliot replaced starter Bob Janecyk, who began serving a five-game suspension without pay for a Nov. 3 stick-swinging incident with center Peter Zezel of the Philadelphia Flyers. Janecyk watched the game from the press box.

King Coach Pat Quinn said: “Hopefully, winning a game like this in overtime will be a good sign. Our self-esteem has been very low.”

The Kings started out fast as center Bernie Nicholls scored his 10th goal of the season on a power play with 7:49 left in the first period. Dionne and Dave Taylor assisted on the play.

But the Red Wings, who had scored five straight goals against the Kings last week, scored four consecutive goals this time to take a 4-1 lead.

Left wing Warren Young, who failed to score a goal in his first 16 games this season after signing with the Red Wings as a free agent, tied the game at 2:32 of the second period with his second goal of the season, this time on a rebound of a shot by Gerard Gallant. Kelly Kisio also assisted on the play, one of three assists for the night.

Right wing Danny Gare gave the Red Wings the lead at 5:06 of the second period when he scored on a rebound of a shot by Steve Yzerman. Czech defector Petr Klima, who had two assists, set up Yzerman with a nice pass.

Detroit left wing John Ogrodnick, who had two goals the last time he played the Kings (a 7-2 Detroit win last Wednesday night at the Forum), scored consecutive second-period goals, including one on a power play.

Lukowich began the Kings’ comeback when he scored his second goal of the season on a rebound of a shot by Dionne at 6:40 of the third period. Defenseman Brian Engblom closed it to 4-3 at 10:36 of the third period when he scored off a pass from Brian MacLellan. Then the Kings tied it at 4-4 with 7:28 left in regulation when Taylor scored his eighth goal of the season, this one on a two-on-one break.

King Notes The Kings will play the Minnesota North Stars Saturday night at Bloomington, Minn. General Manager Lou Nanne of the North Stars scouted the Kings. There is speculation that Nanne is working on a blockbuster trade with the Kings, but he denied the reports. . . . Center Doug Smith of the Kings missed the game with an ankle injury. . . . In overtime games, the Kings are 2-1-1 this season; Detroit is 1-0-4.