Kings Defeat North Stars, 4-3; Trade Smith, Engblom to Sabres

Right wing Bryan Erickson scored two goals as the Kings beat the Minnesota North Stars, 4-3, to snap a three-game losing streak Wednesday night before 9,155 fans at the Forum.

However, the big news happened off the ice.

Following the game, and after repeatedly denying that a trade was in the works, the Kings announced that they had traded defenseman Brian Engblom and center Doug Smith to the Buffalo Sabres for defenseman Larry Playfair, right wing Sean McKenna and the rights to junior defenseman Ken Baumgartner.

“We have wanted to acquire Larry Playfair for a long time,” King General Manager Rogie Vachon said in a prepared statement. “When you go after a good player, you have to pay the price. We hate to lose people like Brian and Doug, but we felt that right now, it is in the best interest of the team. Doug has not been happy with his play this year and he came to me with the feeling that he needed a change. Brian has given a lot to the Kings, and we hope that this will be good for both players.”

Playfair, 27, a 6-4, 200-pound defenseman, was Buffalo’s first choice in the 1978 draft.

“Playfair is a very well-respected player around the league, and I know he will give us a lot of heart on defense,” Vachon said. “Now, we have some more muscle in front of the net.”

McKenna, 23, was the Sabres’ third-round choice in the 1980 draft. In 65 games last season, McKenna (6-0, 185) scored 20 goals and had 16 assists. He has 6 goals and 12 assists in 45 games this season.

Engblom, who was 31 Wednesday, was acquired by the Kings from the Washington Capitals for Larry Murphy and Ken Houston in October 1983. He recently played in his 200th game with the Kings.

Smith, 22, was the Kings’ first pick and the second player chosen in the 1981 entry draft. However, he never fully reached his potential. This season, He went nine games without a goal before scoring against Vancouver on Jan. 18. When asked earlier Wednesday about a possible trade involving Smith, Vachon denied that one was being considered.

Both Playfair and McKenna will join the Kings in Winnipeg for a two-game series against the Jets this weekend. Both played in Buffalo’s 5-3 loss to Winnipeg Wednesday night.

The Kings, who moved into sole possession of third place in the Smythe Division by beating the North Stars, are one point ahead of Winnipeg and Vancouver, who are tied for fourth place. The Kings have 38 points, while the Jets and Canucks each have 37.

“These are playoff games for us,” Quinn said of the weekend series against Winnipeg.

The Kings played one of their best games of the season to beat Minnesota.

Erickson scored the game-winning goal with 4:52 left in the third period off a pass from defenseman Jay Wells on a power play.

“Jay had the puck on the side, and I was wide open,” Erickson said. “I didn’t want to yell for fear that someone would come over. So, I raised my stick, and he slid the puck over to me.”

Erickson grew up in Roseau, Minn., and played his college hockey at the University of Minnesota.

“It’s nice to play well against the North Stars,” he said. “I grew up watching them and I played at the University of Minnesota. And this game was going back home (on TV), so it was special.

“I don’t know if I played any differently tonight than I have in the past, but the puck just went into the net.”

The Kings acquired Erickson from the Washington Capitals for defenseman Bruce Shoebottom in a trade on Oct. 31. He has scored five points in his last five games, on three goals and two assists.

“He’s probably been one of our most consistent players,” Quinn said. “He’s been a real pleasant surprise.”

The North Stars had several strong scoring chances in the final minute of the game but were foiled by King goalie Bob Janecyk, who made some spectacular saves.

Right wing Dave Taylor helped save the win when, with two seconds left, he stopped a shot by Minnesota left wing Steve Payne inches from the goal line.

“We turned it on at the end, but that doesn’t count,” North Star Coach Lorne Henning said.

The Kings outshot the North Stars, 44-20, but Minnesota goalie Don Beaupre made some big saves to keep his team in the game.

“Beaupre played well. We had no right to be there, but he kept us in the game,” Henning said.

Beaupre made a fine save on a breakaway by Marcel Dionne in the second period just after Dionne had come out of the penalty box. Dionne had a nine-game scoring streak broken.

The Kings led, 2-1, going into the third period, but the North Stars tied it just 46 seconds later when right wing Dino Ciccarelli scored his second goal of the game on a power play.

Center Neal Broten set up the goal with a pass to Ciccarelli in the left circle, and Ciccarelli beat Janecyk for his 21st goal of the season.

Defenseman Mark Hardy scored his sixth goal of the season at 2:47 of the third period to give the Kings a 3-2 lead.

The North Stars tied it at 3-3 with 7:50 left when right wing Kent Nilsson scored his ninth goal of the season. Janecyk got a piece of Nilsson’s shot, but the puck trickled off his glove and into the net. It was Nilsson’s 600th career National Hockey League point.

King Notes

There was a report out of Montreal Wednesday that the Kings are trading center Marcel Dionne to the Montreal Canadiens. However, General Manager Rogie Vachon denied the report. “The rumor comes up every year at this time,” Dionne said. “It must have been a slow news day in Montreal.”