Gretzky’s Playoffs Imperiled : Kings: Unless there is improvement in his back, the team’s top player will watch when club opens postseason play.

Unless there is significant improvement in his back over the next week, Wayne Gretzky will not be on the ice when the Kings face the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night in the first game of the playoffs.

“If his condition was the same as it is now, I would not let him play,” said team physician Steve Lombardo Thursday at the Forum, where the Kings were losing their regular-season home finale to the Winnipeg Jets, 1-0. “If he shows significant improvement, he will play. We’ll really know a lot more in the next 72 hours. Sometimes a patient can make dramatic improvement.”

It has been eight days since Gretzky was injured against the New York Islanders. Alan Kerr hit him from behind, shoving Gretzky into Ken Baumgartner.

“I didn’t know he (Kerr) was there,” Gretzky said. “Kenny said, ‘Heads up,’ and tried to catch me, but I went into his chest. It was like hitting a brick wall. It was like being in a car, getting hit when you don’t expect it and then going forward and hitting the windshield. I thought I had broken my back.”

No one else seemed to realize the seriousness of the injury, but, Lombardo said, the replay showed the force of the impact clearly.

“Anybody who thinks Wayne isn’t tough,” Lombardo said, “should see that replay. After watching it, I’m amazed he got up. His body was twisted like a pretzel.”

Gretzky finished the period before heading in for treatment.

“I didn’t want it to tighten up,” he said, “but I probably didn’t do it any good.”

Gretzky has spasms and a hyper-extension of the back. He is being treated with heat, ice and massages. He admitted he doesn’t feel any better than he did eight days ago.

He hasn’t played a full game since March 17 in Boston. Gretzky missed the next two games because of a slight groin strain, taking the opportunity to get rest. He returned only for the single period against the Islanders.

“What started out as a little bit of rest,” he said, “has turned into a little bit of a nightmare.”

Gretzky did not accompany the team on its trip north today for the final two games of the regular season in Vancouver and Calgary.

The earliest he will attempt to get back on the ice is Monday. If he feels all right after practice and gets a medical clearance, he’ll fly Tuesday to Banff, 60 miles outside of Calgary, where the Kings will prepare for the playoffs.

How much improvement would Gretzky have to make to get a medical clearance?

“We would have to have full flexibility,” Lombardi said, “and be able to perform close to his skill level.”

At this point, with his muscles contracted, Gretzky can’t do that.

“They want make sure,” Gretzky said, “that I don’t do any serious damage.”

Owner Bruce McNall thinks Gretzky will be out there if at all possible.

“He’ll want to come back and play no matter what,” McNall said. “What we don’t want is for him to ruin his health, but he’s smart.”

Gretzky himself doesn’t have the answers right now.

“I’ll be in Calgary Wednesday,” he said. “If I can’t play, I can’t play. If I can play with pain, I will.”

King Notes

The only goal of the game was scored by Pat Elynuik. It was his 31st of the year and came at the 5:58 mark of the first period . . . This was the third time the Kings have been shut out. The others were against Calgary . . . The crowd was 16,005, the 31st sellout in 40 home dates. The Kings finish with a record season attendance total of 628,274. The old mark of 595,000 was set last year . . . In getting the shutout, Winnipeg goalie Bob Essensa faced 30 shots. Mario Gosselin, getting a rare start in goal for the Kings, faced 19 shots.