Kings Bury Mystique in Garden, Clinch Playoffs

The Gah-den.

For Los Angeles teams over the years, it’s been more of a cemetery than an arena, a haunted house where so many dreams have been buried.

The Lakers finally exorcised their demons here in 1985 by beating the Boston Celtics for the NBA title.

And Saturday, the Kings foiled their own curse, edging the Boston Bruins, 5-4, with four goals in the final 13:15 to clinch the final playoff spot in the Smythe Division.

In their previous 13 trips into this building, the Kings were 0-12-1. “There were times when it seemed like we were just not meant to win here,” said Dave Taylor, the only King to suffer through the entire streak. “A lot of games here have been heartbreaking, tough to swallow.”

The last time the Kings won in Boston was Jan. 24, 1981. Jim Fox was one of the stars and Jim Craig, a member of the 1980 gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic team, was Boston’s goalie.

Do you believe in miracles?

Nearly a third of the way into the final period Saturday, it appeared that it would take a miracle for the Kings to win.

Consider:

--Boston has the best record in the league, 43-24-7 for 93 points.

--The Bruins, performing before a sellout crowd of 14,448, enjoyed a 4-1 lead nearly seven minutes into the final period, thanks largely to two power-play goals by Ray Bourque.

--Starting play with the best defense in the NHL (only 210 goals allowed), the Bruins had shut down the King offense, permitting only 12 shots on goal through two periods.

Then, the roof fell in on the Bruins.

Literally and figuratively.

A piece of insulation tumbled from the ceiling onto the ice, momentarily halting play.

Perhaps it was a sign the ghosts of Boston Garden had shifted loyalty.

Luck certainly was on the Kings’ side on the first goal of the comeback. Steve Duchesne fired a shot from the right side that bounced off one of Luc Robitaille’s skates into the net.

Bruins 4, Kings 2 at 6:45 of the third period.

“I just went to the net,” said Robitaille, grinning over the fortunate bounce that led to his team-leading 47th goal. “It hurt when it bounced off my skate. I would have gone down if we hadn’t scored, but it never hurts when it goes in.”

Tony Granato continued the comeback by smashing the puck from the left side through the legs of defenseman Garry Galley and past goaltender Reggie Lemelin on his stick side.

Bruins 4, Kings 3 at 15:11.

Less than two minutes later, the Kings’ hottest line--Granato, Wayne Gretzky and Tomas Sandstrom--struck.

Sandstrom got Gretzky the puck behind the net, Gretzky flipped it out to Granato in close on the right side and Granato chipped it through just inside the right post for his second goal of the day and 12th of the year.

Bruins 4, Kings 4 at 16:54.

“Gretzky is at his best behind the net,” Granato said. “I knew all I had to do was get there and he would get it to me.

“I’m playing with the greatest player who ever played. What else can you say?”

No argument from the Bruins, who watched Gretzky apply the clincher.

After Sandstrom got the puck away from defenseman Glen Wesley on the right boards in the Bruins’ zone, he shoved it to Gretzky, who skated into the slot and shot from about 30 feet out.

The puck whistled under Lemelin’s glove for Gretzky’s 40th goal of the season.

Kings 5, Bruins 4 at 18:20.

“I feel kind of foolish,” Boston Coach Mike Milbury said. “I thought I had a couple of guys to cover that 99 (Gretzky), but apparently the message didn’t get through.”

It was Gretzky’s 11th consecutive season of 40 or more goals, a league record. He also had two assists to give him 101 for the season, the 10th consecutive year he’s been in triple figures in that department, another record.

“I think Tony Granato was the difference,” Gretzky said. “His speed has really helped us.”

The teaming of Granato and Sandstrom for the first time since they were obtained from the New York Rangers in the Bernie Nicholls trade has made a difference. The Kings have won four in a row for the first time all year to improve to 32-34-6.

Granato and Sandstrom have been together for the last three, all road victories and all against winning clubs--the Buffalo Sabres, Rangers and Bruins.

“We got what we deserved,” Milbury said. “For the first time this year, I can safely say the guys have gotten cocky. They think they’re special, and you can see the results when they approach a game with that kind of attitude.”

In the end, the Kings were outshot, 33-18, and had only six shots in the final period but got four goals out of them.

Strange game. Strange building.