Light Shines on Granato in King Victory

It’s easy to overlook Tony Granato. And not just because he’s only 5 feet 10 and slight of build.

When it comes to centers, Wayne Gretzky, understandably, gets the attention.

When it comes to goal scorers, Luc Robitaille is leading the team.

And even when it comes to the trade that brought Granato to the Kings two seasons ago, Tomas Sandstrom, who also came in that deal, has the higher profile.

But Thursday night, in the Kings’ 4-2 victory over the Nordiques at the Forum, with Gretzky out with a sprained knee and Sandstrom slowly coming back from an injury, Granato made a rare appearance in the spotlight by scoring a hat trick.

It was the fourth hat trick of Granato’s career. He quietly has amassed 33 goals to place him second on the team behind Robitaille.

Granato is known more for his hard work, his gritty play in the corners and his ability to fill in wherever needed.

“That’s what I’m paid to do,” said Granato, shrugging off his inability to crack the headlines. “I work hard every night. If I’m not working hard, I’m in a lot of trouble, considering I’m 5-10. Everyone has a role. With six or seven tremendous offensive players on this team, it makes it a lot easier.”

Coach Tom Webster doesn’t need to be reminded of Granato’s contributions.

“He skates, he hustles,” Webster said, “and he draws a lot of penalties. He plays at both ends of the ice, and he very rarely has a bad game. He’s happy to be here--one of the most genuine players you’ll meet.”

And one of the most versatile. Early in the season, Granato played on the wing. Because the Kings failed to find a second-line center, he moved over and has filled that role. He’s also able to play effectively on the special teams.

Granato contributed one of the two power-play goals the Kings scored Thursday. He was set up by Paul Coffey, the team’s new point man, making only his second appearance with the club following a three-game absence because of a back injury.

The victory, in front of 16,005, improved the Kings to 27-24-13, moving them within eight points of the Smythe Division-leading Vancouver Canucks.

Quebec dropped to 13-41-9. The Nordiques have yet to win on the road, dropping to 0-25-8 away from home.

The Nordiques scored first Thursday, Jamie Baker getting his fifth goal of the season in the first period on a power play.

After Granato’s first goal, Quebec’s Greg Paslawski put his 20th into the upper right-hand corner of the Kings’ net in a five-on-three advantage to make it 2-1.

Enjoying a five-on-three of their own, the Kings tied the score, 2-2, Granato flipping in a rebound with one second remaining on the two-man advantage.

Reduced to a one-man advantage, the Kings scored again 40 seconds later to move into a 3-2 lead, Robitaille getting his team-high 37th goal.

Granato completed his hat trick in the final minute by scoring into an empty net.

King Notes

Center Wayne Gretzky did not practice with the team Thursday, but, barring any setbacks in the healing process on his knee, he is expected to return to the lineup Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens.

Center Robert Lang will not be joining the Kings this season. The club’s seventh-round draft choice in 1990 will remain with the Czechoslovakian national team for the world championships in April. After Lang excelled for the Czechs in the Winter Olympics, King General Manager Rogie Vachon had hoped to work out an arrangement with the Czechs to get him on the Kings’ roster before the end of this season.

The Nordiques are three games short of the longest single-season winless streak on the road in NHL history. In their first season of existence, 1974-75, the Washington Capitals went 37 games without a victory, winding up 1-39 on the road.