So Far, It’s All Been One-Sided : With Time Running Out, Kings Play Flames at the Forum

Aren’t the Stanley Cup playoffs supposed to provide the unusual and the unexpected?

So far, the Smythe Division semifinal series between the Kings and the Calgary Flames has followed form almost to the point of tedium.

The Flames, who were the National Hockey League’s highest-scoring team and owners of the league’s most efficient power play during the regular season, have had little trouble scoring against the defensively deficient Kings, who gave up more goals than any other team in the NHL.

In two games, the explosive Flames have scored 15 goals, including 5 in 13 power-play opportunities.

Not surprisingly, they lead the best-of-seven series, 2-0, after winning twice at the Olympic Saddledome, 9-2 and 6-4.

Game 3 is tonight at the Forum, where the Kings haven’t won a playoff game since 1982, which was the season that produced the still-ballyhooed “Miracle on Manchester,” their magical rally from a 5-0 third-period deficit to a 6-5 overtime victory over the Edmonton Oilers.

It was suggested in Calgary that a similar miracle might be required for the Kings to pull out this series.

Columnist Larry Wood wrote in the Calgary Herald Friday that the Kings don’t even belong in the playoffs, a suggestion that is hard to argue considering that the Kings’ regular-season record of 30-42-8 was worse than that of all but three other teams in the NHL.

The Flames’ record of 48-23-9 was the NHL’s best.

“It makes no sense,” Wood wrote of the Kings, “that they’re allowed to skate in the same building with the No. 1 Flames at this time of the year.”

In general, the outcome of the series was considered so academic after Game 2 Thursday night that a television reporter dared to ask Coach Robbie Ftorek of the Kings: “Is (it) going to be over in four games?”

Said Ftorek, perhaps retaining his composure only because he was on camera: “I can’t believe that a question like that is being asked. How can it be over when it hasn’t even started?”

Hasn’t even started?

As far as the Flames are concerned, it’s half over.

Even some of the Kings seemed convinced.

“We may have to play a little over our heads,” defenseman Tom Laidlaw told Steve Rosenbloom of the Los Angeles Daily News.

Mostly, though, the Kings remain optimistic, though they never led in either of the first two games.

“I don’t think we have to play over our heads,” said goaltender Glenn Healy, who is expected to start again tonight after making 29 saves Thursday night. “Sometimes, hard work can overcome some of the things you lack in skills.

“I don’t think they’re invincible, by any means.”

Still, Healy has great respect for the Flames, especially when they enjoy a manpower advantage, as they often have in the series.

“They move the puck around so well, and they’ve got so many options,” he said. “They’ve got probably the two best point shooters in the NHL in (Al) MacInnis and (Gary) Suter.

“A lot of teams, you know their shots from the point aren’t going to be that good, so you can kind of cheat on their forwards down low. If we give the Flames a point shot and there’s any kind of screen, the puck’s going to wind up in the net.”

It often has this week.

And in addition to pressuring the Kings offensively, the Flames have also clamped down defensively. Luc Robitaille has yet to score a goal for the Kings, who have been outshot, 85-44.

“They’re very disciplined in their own end,” Healy said. “We can’t seem to mount any sustained pressure against them.”

Time is running out.

King Notes

Gary Suter leads the Flames with seven points in the series, including six assists. Joel Otto has scored three goals, and Al MacInnis has five points, including four assists. . . . Jimmy Carson and Dave Taylor each have two goals and one assist for the Kings. . . . Tickets remain for Game 3 tonight and Game 4 Sunday night. . . . According to the Toronto Globe and Mail, King goaltender Rollie Melanson had the National Hockey League’s worst goals-against average (4.90) and worst save record (.849) in the last month of the regular season. . . . Ken Baumgartner led the league with 95 penalty minutes in the last month of the season, the Globe and Mail reported. . . . Mike Bullard, the Flames’ No. 2 scorer with 103 points in the regular season, is expected to play tonight. Bullard missed the first two games with a charley horse in his left leg, the result of a collision last week with Bernie Nicholls of the Kings. . . . The Flames were 3-1 at the Forum during the regular season. . . . Obviously inspired by Baumgartner, who had “LA” shaved on the side of his head Wednesday by a Calgary barber, a fan showed up at the Kings’ practice Friday in Culver City with “LA” shaved on one side of his head and “22,” Baumgartner’s number, shaved on the other.