Tie Ends Kings’ Losing Streak : Hockey: Goals by Robitaille, Gretzky in third period overcome 3-1 Edmonton lead.

Ties are normally not something to rejoice over.

But the Kings have reason to celebrate, goals by Luc Robitaille and Wayne Gretzky in the third period bringing a 3-3 deadlock with the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night at the Forum before a sellout crowd of 16,005.

For one thing, the Kings came back from a 3-1 second-period deficit against the Smythe Division leaders.

For another, they ended a four-game losing streak that had seen them drop into fourth place in the division, 10 points behind the Oilers.

When you’ve slid that far, anything that breaks your fall--even a tie--is welcome.

Edmonton’s first goal came just 3:01 into the first period. Oiler right winger Jari Kurri took the puck from defenseman Tom Laidlaw near the boards just outside the blue line, skated to within reach of goalie Kelly Hrudey and then slammed the puck home past Hrudey’s pads for his 22nd goal of the season.

There was little Hrudey could do about that one, but he played well the rest of the period, facing 18 shots in all and making several tough saves.

The Kings got the only power play of the period, but failed to convert. They came into the game having failed to score on 23 of their last 26 power-play opportunities.

Laidlaw had another shot at a goal late in the period. He smacked the puck from the slot, but it bounced off the face mask of goalie Bill Ranford.

Ranford looked like he’d been hit by Mike Tyson, reeling back as if he was about to go down.

He didn’t.

The Kings did, ending the period without a goal.

The Oilers increased their lead to 2-0 with a second-period goal at the 4:19 mark that came right out of a coaching manual.

Mark Lamb skated into the slot and dropped the puck for Steve Smith. Smith passed it through a King to Craig Simpson, coming up the right side. Simpson passed it on to Lamb, who had continued to skate in from the left.

The puck was waiting for Lamb when he got to the goal mouth, leaving him little to do but flick it in for his ninth goal.

The Kings made it 2-1 just 20 seconds later. John Tonelli fought through Smith, the Oiler defenseman, behind the net and passed to Steve Kasper, who scored his 14th goal from just inside the left circle.

Simpson gave Edmonton a 3-1 lead with his 16th goal at 10:57 of the second period, the puck flying into the upper left corner of the net well beyond the reach of Hrudey off a Smith pass on the power play. It was Simpson’s second power-play goal.

The Kings got close in the third period when Laidlaw’s shot from the slot was blocked but came right back to him. He slid it across the crease to Robitaille, who flipped it in from the right side.

The goal, coming at the 6:54 mark, was Robitaille’s 32nd, but only his first in the last six games. It was also his first point in the last five games, a period that has coincided with the Kings’ losing streak. Robitaille has 62 for the season.

The Kings tied it up 3-3 at 14:56 when a Larry Robinson shot wound up behind the net. Robitaille dug it out and shoveled it back to Gretzky. Ranford had the near corner covered, so Gretzky shoved it to the far corner and into the net, just inside the left post. It was his 24th goal and league-leading 90th point of the season.

The Oilers had nearly gotten the goal that could have won it a minute earlier when Esa Tikkanen punched the puck into the King net.

But Mikko Makela’s momentum had also carried him into the net, knocking it off its mooring. The officials ruled that had negated the possible goal.

Robitaille found himself with the puck about five feet out in the slot with 50 seconds to play, but fanned, dribbling the puck to the waiting Ranford.

King Notes:

Four members of the Kings will be in Pittsburgh on Jan. 21 to play in the 41st NHL All-Star game . . . Naturally, Wayne Gretzky will be the starting center for the Campbell Conference. That’s where he’s been since the fans started voting for the starters in 1986. Gretzky has been an All-Star all 10 years he’s been in the league. Starting at left wing will be Luc Robitaille, the conference’s leading vote-getter for the second straight year with 298,914 votes. This will be his third trip to the All-Star game. Backing up Gretzky at center will be Bernie Nicholls, appearing in his third All-Star game. The other All-Star King is defenseman Steve Duchesne, making his second appearance in this game.