King Tie With Capitals Leaves a Bitter Taste : Hockey: Los Angeles blows 2-0 lead, fails to maintain margin over Calgary in the Smythe Division race.

The Kings couldn’t take much satisfaction from gaining a point at the expense of the Washington Capitals Tuesday night.

Because they lost a point to Calgary, failing to match the Flames’ Monday night victory.

No matter where they are for the rest of March, no matter who they play, the Kings’ real opponent will be Calgary in a division race that figures to go down to the final day.

The Kings salvaged a 3-3 tie at the Capital Centre before 17,583, but, with 13 games to go for each club, the Kings’ Smythe Division lead over the Flames, once up to six points, is down to three.

The tie ended a seven-game King winning streak, one short of the club record, leaving the team at 39-20-8.

“We’re glad to get a point,” King Coach Tom Webster insisted.

That wasn’t the thinking after one period when the Kings, on Rod Buskas’ third goal and Tony Granato’s 25th, moved into a 2-0 lead.

Then the offense disappeared.

Washington outshot the Kings, 18-6, in the second period and 32-16 after the opening period.

Tomas Sandstrom scored his 37th goal in the second period, but Washington goals by Mike Ridley (his 21st) and Michal Pivonka (16th) cut the margin to 3-2.

The game-tying goal came at 12:55 of the third period.

Steve Kasper was called for slashing John Druce. The Kings entered the game fourth in the league in penalty killing, but for the second time in three tries, the Capitals took advantage of the power play.

Taking a pass from Ridley at the bottom of the left circle, Washington wing Dimitri Khristich allowed the puck to take a short hop and then flipped it over the shoulder of King goalie Daniel Berthiaume for his eighth goal.

“He hit it at the last second,” said Berthiaume, who blocked 35 shots. “It was too close to my shoulder to catch. I was frozen.”

The game was crucial for the Capitals (29-32-6) as well. The tie, coupled with a New Jersey loss, enabled Washington to move to within three points of the Devils in the race for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Patrick Division. The Capitals continue to play well at home, where they are 9-1-3 in their last 13 games.

This is the start of a tough week for the Kings, with three more road games to follow. “It’s mentally tiring right now,” said Wayne Gretzky, who assisted on each of the Kings’ goals to give him a career total of 1,400 assists. “It’s draining every night, knowing you have to win and watching those box scores to see how Calgary did.”

Tuesday night, it was the Flames’ turn to check the box scores. They had to like what they saw.

King Notes

Understandably hesitant to make a major trade that might upset their season-long success, the Kings opted for a minor insurance move before Tuesday’s trading deadline. They acquired right wing Ilkka Sinisalo from the Minnesota North Stars in exchange for a 1991 eighth-round draft choice. Sinisalo, a 31-year-old, 6-foot, 200-pounder, has spent a decade in the league, his first nine years with the Philadelphia Flyers. In 46 games with the North Stars this season, he had five goals, a dozen assists and 24 penalty minutes. A native of Finland, Sinisalo will join the Kings today in Pittsburgh. . . . The Kings also announced some minor-league reassignments. Goalie Robb Stauber, defensemen Rene Chapdelaine and Stephane Richer and wings Darryl Williams and Jeff Rohlicek move from the New Haven Nighthawks to the Phoenix Roadrunners. Defensemen Serge Roy and Scott Drevitch and wingers Daryn McBride and Steve Graves move the other way.