Coach Is the Only King to Come to Defense of Goalie Eliot

Darren Eliot’s hair was standing on end Thursday night. Tending goal for the defenseless Kings, often a frightening experience for even the stoutest goaltender, will do that to a guy.

Actually, Eliot always wears his hair in a spiked fashion. But the Kings’ opening-night goalie must have been shaking behind his mask during the second period as the St. Louis Blues came bearing down on him after several breakdowns in the Kings’ defense.

Eliot faced 11 shots in the second period and gave up four goals, which were all the Blues needed to spoil Eliot’s comeback as the Kings’ starting goaltender.

“We got some strong, strong goaltending from Eliot,” King Coach Pat Quinn said afterward. That was more than Quinn could say about his defense, which allowed a whopping 389 goals last season and seemingly has not improved much since then.

Veteran defenseman Jay Wells, whose best play of the night may have been his quick exit from the locker room, helped out on two of the Blues’ second-period goals. In fact, Wells should have been credited with assists on the goals.

With the Kings leading, 2-1, Wells lost the puck trying to clear it from the Kings’ zone. Brian Sutter gladly took the gift and passed to Greg Paslawski, who bore in on Eliot and slid a shot between the goalie’s legs.

Later in the period, Wells again had the puck in a dangerous position--the Kings’ end of the ice. This time, his clearing pass was intercepted by Bernie Federko, who took it in full stride and shot a backhander past Eliot.

Another King breakdown turned into a 2-on-1 break that resulted in a goal by Mark Hunter just over two minutes into the period. And the Blues’ game-winning goal came on the power play when Federko put a slap shot past Eliot, who may have been screened by the congestion in front of the net.

Considering all that happened to him Thursday, Eliot did not seem too upset. Maybe that’s because not many expected him to be a member of the team, let alone starting in goal, in the opener.

“It felt great to be in there,” Eliot said. “I wanted to play as well as I can. I want to enjoy each start I can earn. I felt I played OK. But playing well is one thing; winning is another.

“There were a lot of tough shots for me. Turnovers anywhere on the ice are going to cost you, but when the turnovers are in the lower end (close to his crease), it’s tough to get the angle. You don’t have time to think. (But) the more you think, the more trouble you get yourself in.”

Most people figured Eliot would be stopping pucks in New Haven, Conn., where the Kings have a minor league team. He came into training camp last month as the third-string goaltender behind Roland Melanson and Bob Janecyk, and Quinn had maintained all along that he wanted only two goalies.

Eliot found himself in that position late last season, when the Kings shipped him to New Haven after he compiled a dismal 5-17-3 record and a 4.90 goals-against average in Los Angeles.

“When they sent me down to the minors, and then, when I wasn’t even playing there, I knew I couldn’t get any lower,” Eliot said. “I learned the business side of the game last year. If they didn’t have plans for me, I’d try somewhere else. But this is where I started and this is where I want to make it.”

No matter the circumstances, giving up four goals is not making it in Eliot’s estimation.

“It’s my job to stop the tough shots as well as the easy ones,” Eliot said. “I want to stay here. It was real special to start tonight, but I’ve got to continue playing well to do it.”

Eliot’s training-camp performance has instilled confidence in his teammates.

Said captain Dave Taylor: “He is our best goaltender right now. Last year, we didn’t get the defense and the big saves when the game was close. Tonight, we didn’t get the defense. There were a few times tonight when Darren came up with the big save to keep us from going behind by more than just one goal. Maybe his time has come.”

It may be that Quinn won’t go back to Eliot for a while, or he may come back with him Saturday night against the New York Islanders. Quinn isn’t saying.

But he would say that Eliot won’t be taking his act to New Haven for at least a little while.

“He’s going to stay here,” Quinn said.