Kings Caught in Another Tie : Hockey: After leading 2-0 and 3-2, they end up even with the North Stars.

Now he stands alone, figuratively, and, too often, literally.

With the trading of the Kings’ backup goalie, Daniel Berthiaume, over the weekend, Kelly Hrudey is expected to be in the net for most, if not all, of the remaining 34 games.

Some goalies can do that.

Hrudey can probably do that.

But not with this team. Not now.

Not when it plays as it did Wednesday night in a 3-3 tie with the Minnesota North Stars at the Met Center. The Kings wound up with their third straight tie by blowing a two-goal lead for the third straight time.

They committed costly turnovers, two that led to goals.

Even the Great One was not immune. Quite the contrary. Wayne Gretzky alone accounted for seven turnovers in the game.

The Kings, whose winless streak was extended to six games (0-3-3), surrendered 42 shots, leaving Hrudey feeling quite alone at times in the net.

Hrudey simply shrugs when asked how much of the load he’ll share with Darryl Gilmour, the 24-year-old minor leaguer called up from the Phoenix Roadrunners to replace Berthiaume.

“When I’m asked to play, I’ll try and be prepared,” Hrudey said. “What will inevitably happen is we’ll see how physically and mentally fatigued I become. Then, they’ll give Darryl a chance. If he can play, all right. If they don’t feel he can help, a decision will be made.”

Hrudey preferred last year when he and Berthiaume were in a two-man rotation that enabled Hrudey to win 26 games and Berthiaume another 20.

“This is a big adjustment,” said Hrudey, 31, of his new solo role. “I’m excited about the opportunity, but it’s a lot to ask of me. I’m not 27 anymore. To play in excess of 60 games is quite a challenge.”

Hrudey met the challenge Wednesday, making several great saves to salvage the tie.

It looked as if he might be in for an easy night when Tony Granato, with his team-high 23rd goal, and Scott Bjugstad gave the Kings a 2-0 first-period lead.

But then came the first of the costly turnovers. Gretzky gave the puck away at the end of the first period, Neal Broten controlling it. Mike Craig wound up with it in the crease, shoving it under Hrudey for his 10th goal.

That was crucial, giving the North Stars some badly needed momentum and the sellout crowd of 15,841 something to cheer about heading into the second period.

Dave Gagner evened it with his 19th goal.

But the Kings went ahead in the third period, receiving help from wing Kyosti Karjalainen, who was just recalled from Phoenix. Karjalainen made the most of his first NHL appearance on a line with Corey Millen and Mike Donnelly.

Fighting off a North Star behind the Minnesota net, Karjalainen fed the onrushing Millen, who backhanded in his sixth goal, pushing the Kings back in front, 3-2.

“I was a bit nervous in the first period,” Karjalainen said. “I guess I have pressure on me, but I’m just going to try and play my game.”

The Kings, playing conservatively with their lead, were bitten by the turnover bug again.

Bjugstad lost the puck, enabling former King Todd Elik to throw it from behind the King net to teammate Brian Bellows. Bellows’ shot was blocked by Hrudey, but Mike Modano followed with his 17th goal off the rebound to forge the tie.

Asked if he was worried about how much Hrudey might have left for the playoffs if he has too many nights like this, Coach Tom Webster took the practical approach.

“Right now,” he said, “I’m just concerned about us making the playoffs.”

King Notes

The crowd was the largest ever in the Met Center, benefiting from the record 690 credentials issued to various people connected with the Super Bowl. . . . The Kings had 26 shots, 16 after the first period. . . . Minnesota defenseman Derian Hatcher is out six to eight weeks with a broken ankle. Hatcher was hurt when he slipped on ice at an airport on his way back after the All-Star break.