Nicholls Makes Overtime Shot Count--Kings Beat Flames, 5-4

Unable even to put a shot on goal in the last eight minutes of regulation, the Kings beat the Calgary Flames, 5-4, Thursday night on their only shot in overtime.

Bernie Nicholls took the puck in the neutral zone, skated to the top of the slot and scored on a 30-footer just 42 seconds into the extra period, lifting the Kings to the victory before a crowd of 18,068 at the Olympic Saddledome.

Jim Fox made a big hit on Calgary’s Joe Nieuwendyk in front of the Flames’ bench, leaving the puck for Nicholls, who used a diving Gary Suter as a screen for his shot, which sailed through Suter’s legs and then between the legs of goaltender Mike Vernon.

“I don’t think Mike could see it that well,” Nicholls said.

It was only the third shot faced by Vernon, who relieved Doug Dadswell with 3:27 left in the second period, after the Kings had scored three goals to overcome a 3-1 deficit.

The Flames dominated the final 23 1/2 minutes of regulation, outshooting the Kings in the third period, 19-2.

But King goaltender Rollie Melanson stopped almost everything Calgary threw at him, and the Flames weren’t able to tie the game until Nieuwendyk lifted a rebound over Melanson with 2:13 left in regulation.

“They should have had five goals in the third period,” Nicholls said of the Flames, who are the No. 1 offensive team in the National Hockey League. “Rollie made some plays that were just unbelievable.”

Even Nieuwendyk, a rookie who scored twice and leads the Flames with 35 goals, wouldn’t have scored if Fox hadn’t been in the way--at least according to Fox.

Fox said he put his stick down as Nieuwendyk shot, helping to lift the puck high into the net.

“If I don’t put my stick down, it doesn’t go in,” he said.

Melanson had stopped all 10 shots he faced Tuesday night, holding the New York Rangers scoreless in the last 23:21 of a 6-3 win after relieving Glenn Healy, who was knocked unconscious when he was hit in the back of the head by a shot by the Rangers’ Jim Pavese.

The Flames, though, beat Melanson on three of their first seven shots.

It took them only one shot and 35 seconds to take the lead. John Tonelli scored from the left circle, putting his shot off the inside of the right post.

Jimmy Carson tied it for the Kings less than two minutes later, scoring on a breakaway after taking a pass from Mark Hardy and skating past defenseman Ric Nattress down the left side.

The Flames made it 3-1 on goals by Nieuwendyk, who extended his club-record point-scoring streak to 14 games, and Suter, who scored while the Flames were short-handed.

At that point, it looked like it might be a blowout, but the Kings rallied during a poorly played second period that included 20 penalties and 68 penalty minutes.

So incensed with the officiating were the Flames and their fans that at one point the message board offered this suggestion: “Get a rope!”

The Kings had six power-play opportunities in the period, cashing in on two of them.

Luc Robitaille scored both times, tucking a rebound into the lower right corner of the net with 10:14 left and, after picking up a shot by Steve Duchesne that caromed off the crossbar, scoring from the slot with 3:27 left.

In between, Phil Sykes intercepted a pass from Joe Mullen in the Flames’ zone and beat Dadswell with a shot off the left post.

The three goals gave the Kings a 4-3 lead and chased Dadswell.

King Notes

The Kings’ Bob Carpenter is expected to be out for at least two weeks with a partially torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder. . . . Grant Ledyard, who has missed the Kings’ last 15 games and has played in only 16 games all season because of an ankle injury, is expected to play tonight at Winnipeg. . . . Tim Tookey, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Dec. 4, was assigned to the Kings’ American Hockey League affiliate at New Haven, Conn., where he is expected to spend about two weeks getting into shape before rejoining the Kings. . . . Wings Gord Walker, 22, and Mike Siltala, 24, acquired in the trade Wednesday that sent Joe Paterson to the New York Rangers, also were assigned to New Haven. . . .Goaltender Glenn Healy, who was knocked unconscious Tuesday night when a shot hit him in the back of the head, said he had a headache Wednesday. By Thursday night, however, he said he felt OK.