Another Key Blow for Kings : NHL playoffs: Down two games to none against Oilers, they lose goalie Hrudey to injury.

His Kings have lost the first two games of the Smythe Division finals and any semblance of an offense against the Edmonton Oilers.

He has lost six players to injury.

Coach Tom Webster figured it couldn’t get any worse.

He was wrong.

Saturday, he lost goalie Kelly Hrudey.

Hrudey, a key to the club’s opening-round elimination of the Calgary Flames, will miss Game 3 of the best-of-seven series against the Edmonton Oilers tonight at the Forum because of sore ribs.

“He could be available for the next game,” Webster said. “The only thing that helps is rest and therapy.”

Webster will make a decision this morning on Hrudey’s replacement, either Mario Gosselin or Ron Scott.

“I didn’t know he was hurt,” Webster said of Hrudey. “He didn’t say anything.”

Hrudey was injured during the third period of Friday night’s 6-1 loss in Game 2 at Edmonton.

Taking advantage of a five-on-three situation, the Oilers’ Mark Messier, on the right side in the Kings’ zone, passed to Jari Kurri, alone on the left.

As Kurri shot the puck, Hrudey, stuck on the other side of the crease, spun around and dived, trying to put his body between the flying puck and the net.

It proved to be a double disaster.

He missed the puck and damaged his ribs as he hit the ice in a horizontal position.

“He had a hard time breathing after that,” Webster said, “but he wanted to stay in there.”

Webster didn’t learn about the problem until after the game. Subsequent X-rays of the rib area showed no fracture.

The Kings began the postseason without Wayne Gretzky, sidelined because of a back injury. He missed two games, but returned in time to help put out the Flames.

There were plenty of others, however, to take his spot among the missing. They are:

--Defenseman Tom Laidlaw, lower back injury. Sidelined since March 17, he is not expected back this season.

--Defenseman Tim Watters, deep ankle bruise. Sidelined during Game 4 of the Calgary series, he had hoped to be back tonight, but is still not ready.

--Right wing Dave Taylor, sore shoulder. Injured during Game 6 against the Flames, he probably won’t play in this series.

--Right wing Bob Kudelski, broken finger. Also hurt during Game 6 against Calgary, he played the series opener against Edmonton, but found it too difficult to grip a stick. He could be back for Game 4.

--Defenseman Rob Blake and left wing Scott Bjugstad, sprained knees. Both were injured Friday night. It is possible neither will be back in this series.

“It all could change tomorrow,” Webster said Saturday. “We could come down with more injuries. Who the hell knows?”

Of immediate concern is Hrudey’s injury. If Webster goes with the 26-year-old Gosselin, he gets a seven-year veteran who has appeared in 31 playoff games, including two this season as Hrudey’s backup.

If he goes with the 29-year-old Scott, Webster gets the more consistent performer during the regular season.

Scott appeared in 12 regular-season games, had a 5-6 record and a 3.67 goals-against average. Gosselin played in 26 games and was 7-11-1 with a 3.87 average.

But there are two possible liabilities in going with Scott. He hasn’t played since suffering a back injury March 20. And he never has appeared in a Stanley Cup playoff game.

“Sometimes a lot is made of playoff experience,” Scott said. “Everyone has a first time. Just because I haven’t played in a playoff game doesn’t mean I haven’t played in pressure situations.

“It’s exciting, the chance to get in there. That’s what everyone plays for, to get in the playoffs.

“The important thing is for him (Gosselin) or myself to hold the fort until Kelly gets back.”

No argument from Gosselin.

“Hopefully, I can do something to help the team,” he said. “I’ve been a relief pitcher the last few months, but that’s OK. A pro athlete’s job is to be ready all the time.”

That’s not so simple when you’re a goalie-in-waiting.

“It’s different in practice,” Gosselin said. “You don’t get screened and you don’t get bumped.”

There are other elements missing in practice as well.

“You just don’t get that intensity,” Scott said. “You stay physically fit, but most of the game is mental.”

It would be ironic if either goalie could stop the Oilers. When Oiler goalie Grant Fuhr was unable to take the ice in the playoffs because of a shoulder injury, Coach John Muckler turned to Bill Ranford. Ranford gave up 2.83 goals per game in the seven-game opening playoff series against the Winnipeg Jets, shut out the Kings in Game 1 of the division finals and gave up one goal in Game 2. Along the way, Ranford went a club-record 154 minutes 24 seconds without being scored against.

That is a tough act to follow for Scott or Gosselin.

King Notes

Faceoff tonight is at 7:30. . . . Although they have been outscored 13-1 in the two games, the Kings have outshot the Oilers by a total of 60-48. “The encouraging part is that the opportunities have been there,” Coach Tom Webster said. “The frustrating part is that we don’t score.”