Tie Goes With Kings’ Smiles : Hockey: Resurgence continues as successful trip (2-1-1) ends in Chicago.

A week ago, the Kings were hurting.

There were nothing but frowns on those who wear the crowns.

The team was faced with a four-game trip that General Manager Rogie Vachon had labeled crucial. There was talk Coach Tom Webster might be fired. There was talk of a major trade. The club was in fourth place, just one point away from the abyss of fifth and playoff elimination.

Thursday night, the Kings were still hurting.

But just physically, not mentally.

Smiles replaced the frowns after the Kings tied the Chicago Blackhawks, 2-2, Thursday night before a Chicago Stadium crowd of 18,472.

That gave the Kings (22-22-13) a 2-1-1 record on the trip, moving them into a three-way tie for second in the Smythe Division with the Edmonton Oilers and the Winnipeg Jets.

“It’s a crazy division,” said goalie Kelly Hrudey, whose brilliant play has been a major factor in the Kings’ resurgence. “Next week, there’ll probably be a four-way tie for fourth.”

It wasn’t all good news for the Kings. The trainer’s room was nearly as full as the dressing room after the game.

Center Wayne Gretzky was nursing a sore left hand, the result of a slash. Center Corey Millen was also slashed on the left hand, but both men finished the game.

Unable to finish were defensemen Brian Benning (groin strain) and Brent Thompson (bruised knee). Unable to even start was fellow defenseman Rob Blake, who stayed back at the hotel with the flu. Unable to even make the trip was defenseman Charlie Huddy (chest contusion).

That left the Kings with just four defensemen to hold off the Blackhawks at the end, but they were able to do so thanks in large measure to Hrudey’s effort in the net.

“He’s been our workhorse,” Gretzky said. “I think the last three games he’s played better than he ever has since he’s been an L.A. King.”

Thursday night, he saved 39 of 41 shots put up by the Blackhawks who had come into the game having won five straight at home.

They scored first Thursday, Jeremy Roenick scoring his 41st goal in the first period off King defenseman Peter Ahola’s skate. Roenick is second in the league to Brett Hull in goals scored. Before the period was over, the Kings had tied the game on Tony Granato’s 27th goal.

Marty McSorley put the Kings ahead with his seventh goal on a power play in the second period. Taking a pass from Jari Kurri, McSorley blasted a slap shot from the right circle that sailed over the stick of Chicago goalie Ed Belfour.

“Sometimes,” McSorley said, “you’ve got to force something.”

The Blackhawks (25-21-11) evened the game once again on Chris Chelios’ sixth goal at the 6:51 mark of the third period.

But that was to be it for the Blackhawks who failed to score on any of their seven power plays. The Kings have killed 51 of the last 54 power plays against them.

The team won the first two games of this trip, against the Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres, in the closing minutes. The Kings’ only loss, administered by St. Louis, was also in a one-goal game.

With 23 games still to play, the Kings haven’t won anything yet, except perhaps a respite from the criticism.

“If we had not done well,” Gretzky said of the trip, “people would have said we need a trade, we need a big shakeup. We might have been in fifth. Instead . . . “

He never finished his sentence. He didn’t have to. His smile said it all.