Hat Trick a Great Way to Turn 30

Wayne Gretzky turned 30 Saturday.

That’s the age when thoughts of mortality can creep into an athlete’s mind, and a perceptible slowness sometimes creeps into his step.

But in Gretzky’s case, you can hold those plans for the retirement dinner.

Showing that thirtysomething will look a lot like twentysomething, Gretzky scored his 30th goal on his 30th birthday, added two more for his 48th hat trick and collected a total of five points as the Kings beat the Vancouver Canucks, 5-4, at the Forum.

How fitting.

But then 99 has always been a big-numbers guy.

Like 2,077 career points and 709 goals in 11 1/2 NHL seasons. Like league record season totals of 92 goals, 215 points and 163 assists. Like four Stanley Cups and nine Hart Trophies.

All by age 30.

“Getting his 30th goal on his 30th birthday,” King owner Bruce McNall said, “that’s typical of his life. It seems like everything in his life is destined.”

McNall’s surprise gift to Gretzky is a prize colt from a Kentucky farm. Gretzky was present last spring when the colt was foaled on the day the Kentucky Derby was run.

“This horse will probably go on to win the Derby,” McNall said, “the way Wayne’s life goes.

“He has shown that life begins at 30.”

For anyone who thought Gretzky might be slowing down as he enters his third decade, he set them straight quickly Saturday.

He scored his 30th goal 12 seconds into the game, sweeping the puck past Canuck goalie Kirk McLean from in close.

Gretzky’s 31st goal came in the second period off his own rebound. His 32nd, in the final period, was shot into an empty net after McLean and teammate Jyrki Lumme got tangled up to one side.

Gretzky received a birthday salute from the sellout Forum crowd of 16,005. But he refuses to make a big deal out of the big three-oh.

“I’m enjoying the game more than ever,” Gretzky said. “I feel I’m in good shape. You look at someone like Ivan Lendl who is (in his early 30s) and you know that if you take care of yourself, you can stay in shape. Playing keeps you young.

“I still don’t feel like I’m the one to point things out to the young guys. I let veterans like Dave Taylor and Larry Robinson fill that role. That shows I don’t think of myself as old.”

If he did, what should Robinson think? He’ll turn 40 in June.

“I’d love to turn 30,” Robinson said with a wistful smile. “But I’m turning 40 and I’m not worrying about it. I still don’t think I’m getting near the end.”

One criticism of the Kings before this season was that they had too many players in their 30s who might be nearing the end, but Saturday’s victory extended their lead in the Smythe Division to six points over the runner-up Calgary Flames, their biggest margin of the season.

“Not too many people before the season thought that after 50 games, we’d be in first place by six points,” Gretzky said. “Of course, not too many people thought that after 50 games, we’d be in first.”

The Kings are 28-17-5. Vancouver is 19-28-4, dropping below the Winnipeg Jets into the Smythe cellar.

But the game turned out to be a lot closer than it appeared would be the case after the Kings had taken a 4-1 second-period lead, thanks to Gretzky, Steve Duchesne’s 14th goal--and third in two nights--and Tony Granato’s 17th.

Vancouver goals by Robert Kron (ninth), Trevor Linden (23rd), Jim Sandlak (seventh) and Petr Nedved (third) helped close the gap.

But, in the end, nothing was to ruin Gretzky’s celebration.

“We don’t want him to lose any confidence,” a smiling Marty McSorley said, “just because he’s getting old.”

King Notes

Lost in the Wayne Gretzky spotlight was Tomas Sandstrom, who contributed four assists. . . . This was the 89th time Gretzky has scored five or more points in a game. . . . King center John McIntyre needed four stitches to close a cut behind his left ear after being hit by the puck in the second period. . . . Defenseman Tim Watters missed his sixth game after twisting a knee Jan. 12. He has been fitted with a brace and has been cleared to play.