Dionne Ends Slow Start, Kings Finish Fast

King center Marcel Dionne had the worst start of his career this season.

But Dionne looks like he’s coming out of his slump.

Dionne scored two goals to lead the Kings to a 4-1 win over the Winnipeg Jets Sunday night before 11,435 fans at the Winnipeg Arena.

“We need Marcel,” King Coach Pat Quinn said. “He’s the key to our hockey team. He’s a notorious slow starter. I don’t know why, you’ll have to ask him. But it seems like he’s got that jump in his legs now.”

Said Dionne: “It seems like for the first 15 games every year I’m not there. But I feel confident now.”

Asked if Dionne is doing anything different, right wing Dave Taylor said: “Marcel seems to be skating a little better and he’s also shooting the puck more.”

With the score tied, 1-1, after the second period, the Kings scored three consecutive goals against Winnipeg goalie Dan Bouchard in a two-minute span of the third period to beat the Jets for the second time in two nights.

Dionne, who had an unassisted power-play goal in the second period, broke the tie when he scored his second goal with 8:44 left in the third period on a shot from the right faceoff circle that went into the net off the left goal post.

Right wing Bryan Erickson, who had the game-winning goal in the Kings’ 3-2 victory over Winnipeg Saturday night, scored on a pass from center Bernie Nicholls with 7:23 left in the third period to make it 3-1.

Center Doug Smith, who hadn’t scored since Oct. 22, scored his first goal in 19 games with 6:44 left in the game.

The Kings are unbeaten in their last four games, posting a 2-0-2 record. The win left the Kings (7-16-4) just three points behind Winnipeg (9-17-3) and Vancouver (9-17-3), who are tied for fourth place in the Smythe Division. It was the first time this season that the Kings have won back-to-back games.

“It was a big weekend for us,” Quinn said. “I think it’s the first time this year that our club has displayed patience on our defensive game. This gives us something to build on.”

King goalie Darren Eliot, making his third straight start, played well, making 25 saves. Eliot found a $50 bill taped to the wall behind his stall in the dressing room after the game.

Asked about the money, Eliot said: “The tooth fairy left it. No, don’t write that. . . . Seriously, (left wing) Morris Lukowich put up the money for the guy who scored the winning goal or if the goalie gave up less than two goals. It’s team money. I’ll probably take the guys out and buy a few rounds.”

The Jets, who have lost three straight and seven of their last 10 games, are in their worst slump of the season.

And there are reports that Winnipeg Coach Barry Long is in danger of being fired.

“I’ve got nothing to say, nothing. Ask those guys (the Kings),” Long said as he was leaving his office following a 30-minute meeting with assistant coach Rick Bowness.

Said Bowness: “Right now we’re a dead hockey club. We (the coaches) are so concerned about this team that we’re not thinking about our jobs.”

Winnipeg has fallen apart since trading defenseman Dave Babych to Hartford for right wing Ray Neufeld on Nov. 20. The Jets are 1-8-1 since the trade.

“It (the trade) changed our style,” Winnipeg captain Dale Hawerchuk said. “We haven’t played that well since the trade. But we can’t sulk over it.”

Said Jet defenseman Bobby Dollas: “We don’t seem to have that killer instinct. Right now we’re too relaxed.”

King Notes King defenseman Garry Galley hurt his right knee cap with 2:57 left in the second period when he slid into the goalpost after a collision with Jet center Thomas Steen. Galley had to be helped off the ice and he was taken to a hospital for X-rays. Trainer Pete Demers said the X-rays were negative and the injury was a bruise. Galley is the Kings’ fifth leading scorer with 15 points in 27 games. . . . The Kings play the Calgary Flames Tuesday and Thursday at the Olympic Saddledome. The Kings are unbeaten in the first three games of the five game trip with a 2-0-1 record. . . . There was a big fight in front of the Winnipeg goal with 51 seconds left in the game which both goalies were involved.