Oilers Stop Gretzky and Kings, 4-1

Esa Tikkanen and Jari Kurri scored power-play goals and Charlie Huddy scored a short-handed goal Friday night as the Edmonton Oilers stopped Wayne Gretzky and beat the Kings, 4-1.

Grant Fuhr made 26 saves as Edmonton moved to within a point of the Kings for second place in the Smythe Division. The Oilers have beaten Los Angeles four times in five games this season,

Glenn Anderson also scored an empty-net goal for the Kings. Steve Taylor scored midway through the third period for Los Angeles, which was outshot 34-27 and went 0-for-7 on the power play.

Gretzky, playing in Edmonton for the third time since last August’s trade, was held in check by Tikkanen, who also had two assists.

Kelly Hrudey, acquired from the Islanders earlier in the week, made his first appearance for Los Angeles. He was under constant pressure, partly as a result of mistakes.

Los Angeles drew a minor penalty for starting the wrong lineup and then was called for too many men on the ice in the eighth minute.

Huddy scored short-handed at 6:08 of the first and Tikkanen took advantage of the bench minor with a power-play goal at 9:53.

Kurri made it 3-0 on the power play at 5:02 of the second with Dale DeGray off roughing.

Taylor broke the shutout at 8:56 of the third when he was left alone in front. Anderson scored his first goal since Jan. 21 with 47 seconds left.

Los Angeles defenseman Tom Laidlaw left the game in the second period and was taken to a hospital for X-rays of his hand.