Games Played On, Off Ice : Stanley Cup playoffs: Kings, Oilers try to influence officials as series reaches Game 5 tonight at Forum.

By STEVE SPRINGER

April 26, 1992 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

Thursday, they shouted. Friday, they skated.

Thursday, they took verbal shots. Friday, they took slap shots.

Twenty-four hours after they engaged in a heated round of finger-pointing, the Kings and the Edmonton Oilers resumed their best of-seven Smythe Division semifinal series on the ice with the Kings winning the fourth game, 4-3, Friday to even the series at 2-2.

Game 5 will be played tonight at the Forum (7:30, Prime Ticket).

Before Game 4, King Coach Tom Webster pointed his finger at Edmonton’s Kelly Buchberger, claiming Buchberger was illegally shadowing Wayne Gretzky. Oiler General Manager Glen Sather and Coach Ted Green pointed their fingers at the Kings’ Tony Granato and Marty McSorley for alleged cheap shots.

So what’s new?

It happens in every series. In accusing the enemy of unthinkable deeds, each side is looking for any psychological edge, any opportunity for public sympathy, any chance to influence the officials.

When Webster advocated passing a new rule to protect the game’s superstars from the type of defense Buchberger is playing against Gretzky, Webster couldn’t have been serious.

What does he want, a rule that any player who gets 50 goals also gets a lifetime protection guarantee?

Hardly.

Webster was simply doing what any coach in a similar position would do, seeking free rein for his meal ticket through any and all means possible, even a public appeal.

Pat Riley used to do the same thing when he was coach of the Lakers and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was his center. Riley would constantly use the media to campaign for more protection for his star center, claiming Abdul-Jabbar was unfairly hampered by opposing defenses.

Yet if he were honest, Riley would have to admit he’d rough up Abdul-Jabbar if he had to face him. And Webster would do the same thing in the case of Gretzky.

The officials can’t be expected to protect Gretzky. Shadowing is as old as hockey. It goes on in almost every game. It is only the focus of the playoffs that has put it in the spotlight.

What the officials should be expected to do, however, is to be consistent, to call penalties when they see them whether they are committed by Buchberger, Granato, McSorley or Gretzky.

An extensive study by the Edmonton Journal found that isn’t so. The study indicated that officials are more interested in keeping the power plays even, the games close and the final outcome in the hands of the players.

According to the study, using 165 NHL games over a five-week period, after two power plays were given to the same team, the opposing team got the next power play 222 times, the same team only 132.

With a two-goal lead for one team, the trailing team got the next power play 83 times, the leading team on only 59 occasions.

In 58.8% of the games, there was no more than a one-goal differential in power plays.

The power plays by period were first period, 87; second period, 80; third period, 42.

What does it all mean? Probably that if the figures show officials pointing their fingers more evenly, the opposing teams would have less to point their fingers at.

Add Buchberger: Although the Oiler wing was still skating in Gretzky’s shadow Friday night, even Webster had to admit Buchberger was less physical.

“He was still checking him,” Webster said of Buchberger. “But he didn’t have the stick on him as he did in the first three games. He’s looking more for positioning.

“But he still has to be watched. He can’t put his stick on him. I hope the message will get across, not only for now, but for the future.”

Webster has more ability to free up Gretzky tonight because the Kings are the home team, meaning they will have the last line change.

Webster hopes to match up Gretzky’s line against Edmonton’s first line of Bernie Nicholls, Joe Murphy and Vincent Damphousse.

“I’ll take that any day,” Webster said.

That’s fine with Gretzky, too.

“If they bring Buchberger in,” Gretzky said, “that means they’ll have to break up that line.”

One way to break Buchberger’s concentration would be to turn loose McSorley, who has been known to act as an enforcer and is now on Gretzky’s line.

It’s not that easy, McSorley says.

“(The officials) are really watching very carefully right now,” he said. “It would be very easy to get a penalty by doing too much. The special teams are really important right now. As soon as I get involved, there will be a big focus on me. Let’s face it, a lot of people expect me to do it, but I don’t want to hurt the team.

“Wayne Gretzky is a great hockey player. Somewhere down the line, he will hurt them. Somewhere, Wayne will do his thing.”

King Notes

The two injured Kings--wing Jari Kurri and defenseman Larry Robinson--will not play tonight. Kurri has a sprained ankle, suffered in Game 3, Robinson an ankle bruise, suffered in Game 2.

Stanley Cup Playoffs

KINGS VS. EDMONTON OILERS

* Game 1: Edmonton 3, Kings 1

* Game 2: Kings 8, Edmonton 5

* Game 3: Edmonton 4, Kings 3

* Game 4: Kings 4, Edmonton 3

* Tonight: at Forum, 7:30 p.m.

* Tuesday: at Edmonton, 6:30 p.m.

* Thursday: at Forum, 7:30 p.m.*

SATURDAY’S RESULTS

New York 3, New Jersey 0

(Series tied, 2-2) Washington 7, Pittsburgh 2