Comeback Is Dream Come True : Hockey: Rookie Todd Elik scores his first two NHL goals as Kings overcome 4-1 deficit to defeat Capitals, 7-4.

Rookie center Todd Elik of the Kings dreamed of scoring his first NHL goal.

Elik’s dream came true Monday in his eighth game in the NHL. He scored two goals to help the Kings to a 7-4 victory over the Washington Capitals at the Capital Centre.

“You wouldn’t believe what this feeling is like,” Elik said. “You get your chance, and if you can make the best of it, then it’s the best feeling in the world. This is what I’ve worked for for 23 years.”

Playing in place of Steve Kasper, sidelined because of flu, Elik scored the Kings’ first goal and added a third-period goal as the Kings rebounded from 4-1 deficit with six goals.

Acquired from the New York Rangers last season, Elik was called from the Kings’ minor league team in New Haven, Conn.

He replaced injured Dave Taylor (groin pull) at right wing on a line with Luc Robitaille and Bernie Nicholls. But because of Kasper’s absence, he moved to center on a line with left wing John Tonelli and Keith Crowder for Monday’s game.

“There’s no question that Elik’s one of our better players in the organization,” said Wayne Gretzky, who scored two goals and had one assist. “He’s got a tremendous amount of talent and somehow we’re going to have to find him ice time.”

The Kings’ comeback was only the second time in 14 games they have won after trailing at the end of the second period. It was the first time this season the Kings (20-15-4) have overcome a three-goal deficit and won.

The loss stunned the Capitals (18-17-4), whose four-game winning streak ended.

“We were so in charge for the first half of the game that it was really unbelievable that we let them back in the game,” Capital goalie Don Beaupre said.

Although Washington was without star defensemen Scott Stevens, sidelined because of a broken foot, and Rod Langway, who suffered a knee injury last week, it was the Kings who were defenseless for the first half of the game, giving up four consecutive goals.

But the Kings didn’t quit.

Nicholls helped spark the comeback with a goal and an assist.

The Kings made the score 4-2 when defenseman Larry Robinson scored at 9:33 of the second period. Nicholls set up the play when he centered the puck off the skate of defenseman Kevin Hatcher and into the slot, where it went to Robinson, who scored his fifth goal of the season.

Nicholls made the score 4-3 when he faked a pass to Gretzky, forcing Hatcher to check Gretzky. Beaupre slid out of the net to make the save, but Nicholls flipped a high shot into the net for his 27th goal of the season at 13:24.

“The big goal that turned it around was Nicholls’ goal,” King Coach Tom Webster said. “It got us going, and from there we just got stronger.”

The Kings tied it at 4-4 at 1:14 of the third period when Gretzky set up right wing Bob Kudelski with a nice pass. Kudelski faked Beaupre to the left and backhanded a shot into the net for his 11th goal of the season.

Gretzky scored what turned out to be the winning goal at 6:49 of the final period. Defenseman Marty McSorley took a slap shot from the right point, and Beaupre slid out of the net to try to make the save. Gretzky grabbed the puck at the right post, moved in front of the crease and put the shot into the net for his 20th goal.

After Elik added his second goal with 2:10 remaining, Gretzky sealed the victory with his second goal on a breakaway with 49 seconds left.

King Notes

In addition to Steve Kasper, four other Kings missed the game. Defenseman Barry Beck remained in Los Angeles because of a concussion. He was hospitalized for observation after he was knocked into the boards during a 6-3 loss to Philadelphia Saturday night. Right wing Dave Taylor remained home because of a groin injury, and defenseman Tim Watters didn’t make the trip because of an ankle injury. Mikael Lindholm stayed home because of a back injury. . . . The Kings called up two players from New Haven, right wing Scott Bjugstad and defenseman Bob Halkidis. Bjugstad had 12 goals in his last eight games. Halkidis was acquired from Buffalo in the deal that sent Dale DeGray to the Sabres. . . . Wayne Gretzky received two minor penalties for roughing after altercations with defenseman Neil Sheehy.