Kings, Riddled by Ridley, Lose to Rangers

Rookie Mike Ridley wasn’t given much chance of making the New York Rangers when he came to training camp as a free agent out of the University of Manitoba last fall.

But Ridley, 22, was signed on Oct. 2 and has become a regular for the team at center. Canada’s University Player of the Year in 1983-84 was a left wing until this season.

Ridley, who was never drafted, scored two third-period goals as the Rangers came from behind to beat the Kings, 4-3, Wednesday night before 11,577 fans at the Forum.

“He (Ridley) came into camp sight unseen,” said Ted Sator, the Rangers’ first-year coach. “Reg Higgs, our assistant coach, deserves all the credit for Ridley. Reg had coached against him in college. He recommended him to me, and we brought him to camp. He wasn’t given a spot--he earned it.”

The Kings squandered third-period leads of 2-1 and 3-2.

Former King left wing Brian MacLellan scored a power-play goal on a rebound of a shot by Helminen to tie it at 2-2 at 7:30 of the third period. Helminen had scored the first Ranger goal.

MacLellan, traded to the Rangers last month for goalie Roland Melanson and Grant Ledyard, was playing in his first game against his former team. He has scored 11 goals this season, and 9 of them have been on the power play. Before being traded on Dec. 9, he went 14 consecutive games without scoring a goal.

“It was a weird feeling playing against the Kings,” MacLellan said. “I was nervous, and it was a bit awkward. I didn’t really enjoy it. It took about half the game for me to get into it. When I took my first penalty, I almost went to the King penalty box.

“But it was satisfying to get a goal. It was the icing on the cake for me.”

However, it looked as if the Kings might scrape some of the icing off after right wing Dave Taylor scored his 15th goal of the season with 7:23 left to make it 3-2. Center Marcel Dionne was originally credited with the goal, but the officials gave it to Taylor when they looked at a tape after the game. Taylor had one assist, Dionne two.

King Coach Pat Quinn said his team gave the game away.

“We worked hard tonight, but the Rangers were sharp, and they took it back away from us,” Quinn said. “We were trying to hammer it around the boards without much sense.”

Ridley tied it at 3-3 with 5:36 left when he deflected in a shot by teammate Kelly Miller for his 12th goal in 44 games this season. Miller got assists on both of Ridley’s goals.

Ridley scored the game-winner with 2:44 remaining in the third period. King goalie Bob Janecyk, who replaced starter Melanson at the beginning of the third period, blocked a shot, but Miller kept the puck in and flipped a seemingly harmless shot toward the net. Ridley took a whack at it, as if he were trying to swat a fly, and it went into the net. Ridley has 13 goals and 20 assists for 33 points, fifth in scoring among NHL rookies this season.

“Our team has been lacking a goal scorer,” Ridley said. “It was nice to get a couple of bounces and get some goals. In the second period, the puck came out to me, and I missed it. I’ve had good games before, but I want to play consistently.”

The Kings remained in a tie for fourth place in the Smythe Division with Winnipeg, which lost to Montreal, while the Rangers (20-21-5) remained tied for fourth with Pittsburgh in the Patrick Division.

The Kings, who trailed, 1-0, at the end of the first period, tied it at 1-1 when center Bernie Nicholls scored his 21st goal of the season, this one off a pass from right wing Jim Fox with 7:56 left in the second period.

Left wing Joe Paterson scored his third goal of the season 2:05 into the third period to give the Kings a 2-1 lead. Taylor was originally credited with the goal, but it was later given to Paterson.

Dionne set up Paterson’s goal when he stole the puck from Ranger defenseman Mike McEwen in back of the net and fed Taylor in the slot. Paterson tipped Taylor’s backhander into the net.

Melanson, starting his second game of the season for the Kings, gave up the first-period goal to Helminen.

Melanson was replaced by Janecyk after facing 20 shots in two periods.

The Kings announced that Melanson had aggravated a groin injury in the second period. The injury first occurred Nov. 19, while Melanson was playing for Minnesota. It kept him out until last week, when he lost his King debut, 7-3, at Pittsburgh.

Janecyk was unbeaten in his last four starts (3-0-1) and in six of his last seven coming into the game. He had started the last two games and 9 of the last 10. However, against the Rangers he allowed 3 goals on 10 shots in 19:04 of playing time.

King Notes In a pregame ceremony, former hockey star Gordie Howe presented an award to King right wing Dave Taylor for having the best plus/minus figure on the team last season. Taylor also received a $500 check to be donated to charity. . . . King broadcasters Bob Miller and Nick Nickson have signed two-year contract extensions through the 1987-88 season. Miller is in his 13th season and will broadcast his 1,000th game Feb. 8 against the New York Islanders. Nickson is in his fifth season as the color commentator. . . . Ranger defenseman Willie Huber celebrated his 28th birthday by playing in his 500th NHL game. . . . King left wing Dave (Tiger) Williams missed the game with a shoulder injury. Left wing Phil Sykes and center Len Hachborn were out because of groin injuries. . . . The Kings will play the Canucks Friday night at Vancouver and return home Saturday night to play the Canucks again at the Forum.