Crisp Moans About Too Many Penalties : Calgary: Coach says team got ahead and then became complacent, allowing Kings three power-play goals.

The Calgary Flames’ 8-5 victory over the Kings Friday night evened their Smythe Division semifinal playoff series at 1-1, but it was far from a tour de force by the defending Stanley Cup champions.

“We went out and did what we had to do early. Then we got a little complacent and took some dumb penalties,” Coach Terry Crisp said after the Flames had given up three power-play goals.

“Two areas we’re not happy with: We’re not happy with the penalties we took, and we’re not happy with our penalty killing. We can do better in both areas, but our best penalty killing is to stay out of the box.”

In two games, the Kings have scored five power-play goals in 14 opportunities after converting only one of 19 manpower advantages in their last three games of the regular season.

Had Crisp stressed the importance of avoiding penalties and killing penalties when he spoke to his players after the game?

“And between (periods) and before and during,” he said.

Doug Gilmour didn’t seem to understand his coach’s concerns.

“You don’t ever want to give up a lot of goals,” said Gilmour, who scored two goals and assisted on a third, “but at the same time, if you win the game, what’s the difference? We want to shut them down and make it a tighter game, but again, if you win, what’s the difference?”

Crisp expects the Flames to cut down on their penalties at the Forum, where the series will shift for Games 3 and 4 Sunday and Tuesday nights.

“We play very well in that building,” he said. “We play a lot more disciplined in L.A. than we do at home.”

To be successful, they’ll have to be, Gary Roberts said.

“We played very well at some points, but then we fell asleep like we did the other night,” Roberts said. “We seemed to let up. Their power play was very good and they seemed to find a hole in our defense. We’re going to have to be better defensively in the Forum.”

The Kings have shown the Flames that they won’t go quietly.

“They seem to be crashing our net a lot more than they ever have,” Roberts said. “That’s something we’ve got to do--stay on top of their goalie.”

Rick Wamsley had a 4-1 record, 2.89 goals-against average and two shutouts against the Kings in the regular season, but the Flames’ backup goaltender has yet to play in the series.

Wamsley hasn’t started a playoff game since April 12, 1987, when he lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs, 2-1, as a member of the St. Louis Blues.

Since being acquired by the Flames in a trade in the last month of the 1987-88 season, he has played only 55 minutes in the playoffs, twice relieving the Flames’ No. 1 goaltender, Mike Vernon, in Calgary losses.

But after Vernon gave up four third-period goals in the Flames’ 5-3 loss in Game 1, some thought Wamsley should start in Game 2.

“We should see Wamsley,” wrote columnist Allan Maki of the Calgary Herald. “He deserves the start.”

Coach Terry Crisp, however, stuck with Vernon, who started all 22 playoff games last spring when the Flames won the Stanley Cup.

“If it wasn’t his fault, why would you want to take him out if you think he can win for you?” Crisp told the Calgary Sun, saying that Vernon was not to blame for the Flames’ third-period collapse in Game 1.

So, Wamsley sat again.

“Sure, it’s a difficult decision to make,” Wamsley told the Calgary Herald. “Ultimately, the coach has to decide what’s best for the team, although everyone might not agree with it. All I can do is be ready.”

The first of two goals scored by Al MacInnis of the Flames in Game 1 was only the seventh scored on a penalty shot in NHL playoff history and the first scored by a defenseman.

Goaltender Kelly Hrudey of the Kings, beaten on MacInnis’ shot, has stopped one of seven penalty shots in 6 1/2 NHL seasons.

An assist by MacInnis on a second-period goal by Joel Otto Friday night gave MacInnis points in 19 consecutive playoff games, matching Wayne Gretzky for the second-longest streak in postseason play. Bryan Trottier had points in 27 consecutive playoff games.