Kings Fall to Blackhawk Flurry for First Road Loss, 7-4

Nothing whips a Chicago Stadium crowd into a frenzy like a few Blackhawk goals. And a string of goals? Pandemonium. Five consecutive goals against the Kings had a crowd of 17,863 rattling the old rafters Sunday night.

By the time the Kings regrouped, the game was out of reach and the Blackhawks were well on their way to a 7-4 victory that put them in a tie with Minnesota for first place in the Norris Division with a record of 5-4-1.

The Blackhawks--who lost all three games to the Kings last season--haven’t been over .500 in more than two years.

It was the first defeat on the road this season for the Kings, whose record went to 5-4.

And although Wayne Gretzky is still not at full strength after a bout with the flu, that certainly doesn’t account for the sum of the Kings’ shortcomings.

Coach Tom Webster mentioned the sloppy play in the second period and agreed that the Kings’ passes were “a little off.” He said: “When you don’t pass the puck well, something’s going to break down.”

Gretzky mentioned the goal the Kings gave up early in the second period when they got caught on a line change. And he voiced the obvious, that Chicago Stadium is no place to spot the home team a 6-1 lead.

“It’s awfully tough for the visiting team to come back in this building,” Gretzky said.

Mario Gosselin, who was in goal for the Kings, was dropped by a puck to the neck in the second period but he elected to stand his ground and continue playing. He mentioned some bad bounces and a puck that glanced off a skate to beat him.

But he knew that six goals--the seventh was on the empty net in the final minute--could not all be explained away.

Nor did he blame his injury. The Kings were already trailing, 3-1, when a deflected puck clipped him under the jaw.

By that time, it seemed to Gosselin that staying in the game was the only honorable thing to do.

“It’s easy to get off the ice if you don’t want to play with pain, but that’s not fair to the other guy,” Gosselin said. “It wouldn’t be fair to Kelly (Hrudey) to ask him to come in after he has been sitting on the bench for two periods, with no warmup. That is how he can get hurt.”

So Gosselin picked himself up and went on. He gave up a goal to defenseman Trent Yawney on a long slapshot 54 seconds later and the second period ended with the Blackhawks leading, 4-1.

After Chicago scored two quick goals to open the third period, the Kings were forced to open it up.

Bernie Nicholls scored back-to-back goals and Bob Kudelski added his second of the game off a pass from Gretzky to pull the Kings to within 6-4. But with less than five minutes to play, it was not enough.

Kudelski had scored his first goal with 19 seconds left in the first period, while the Kings were still in the game.

Then came the five Chicago goals.

Seeking silver linings, Webster gave credit for a strong first period, and added, “We almost came back and made a game of it . . . we had some good chances.”

Jacques Cloutier was back in goal for the Blackhawks after missing two games with a sore back and stiff neck. He faced 29 shots by the Kings.

“I know we’re a better hockey team than we’ve shown in the last few games,” Webster said. “We got a win in St. Louis, which we’ll take. But we know what needs to be done.”

King Notes

The Kings next play Wednesday, when they meet Smythe Division-leader Calgary at the Forum. . . . Keith Crowder returned to Los Angeles Sunday morning for treatment after aggravating the chest muscle injury he had suffered during training camp. He apparently was hurt when he crashed into the boards Saturday night at St. Louis. . . . Marty McSorley, who has been playing as a defenseman so far this season, was at forward on Steve Kasper’s line, filling in for Crowder.