Once Gretzky Scores, Rest of Kings Join In : NHL: He ends 16-game streak without a goal and Los Angeles defeats North Stars, 10-5.

There was nothing new with the first part of this familiar announcement over the public address system.

“The third Los Angeles Kings’ goal . . . by Wayne Gretzky.”

Then came the next phrase: “His third of the season, from Mike Donnelly and Tony Granato.”

His third ?

Usually, Gretzky steps on the ice, breathes, and scores three goals. But he came into Wednesday’s game with the weight of a 16-game goal scoring drought.

There was the pressure of two countries coming down on him, manifested in radio call-in shows and letters to the editor suggesting he think about retirement. Never mind that he missed the first 39 games of the season because of a career-threatening back injury.

Gretzky proved that reports of his demise were quite premature with his five-point performance--one goal and four assists--in the Kings’ 10-5 victory over the Minnesota North Stars before 14,911 at Met Center.

The game turned with the third-place Kings (26-25-7) scoring five goals in the third period.

The Kings took a three-point lead over fourth-place Winnipeg and went nine up on fifth-place Edmonton in the Smythe Division.

But Gretzky dominated the night with his best game since returning to the lineup in early January, his goal at 11:51 of the first period ending the longest goal-less streak of his career.

Gretzky’s last goal came when he scored twice against the Winnipeg Jets on Jan. 8. Wednesday’s goal wasn’t a slick, artful play but no one cared. Donnelly, from behind the net, sent a pass out front to Gretzky at the right crease. All Gretzky had to do was redirect it past Minnesota goaltender Darcy Wakaluk.

“I was just happy it went in,” said Gretzky, who has 24 points in 19 games. “Now I can stop answering questions about it. At the time, it was a big goal. When I score a goal, I want it to be an important goal. I was happy with it.

“I told one of the guys on the bench, I got a bonus for four. Said his linemate, Granato, who finished with five points: “Some of the guys were telling him to get the puck. Someone said there was a bonus if he got four.”

There was a tangible sense of relief among the other King players. Now, they could relax and fully concentrate on winning their second consecutive game.

Donnelly broke his own goal-scoring drought, which had been at 12 games, with two third-period goals and two assists.

Others with multi-point performances were Luc Robitaille (two goals, one assist), Jimmy Carson (one goal, one assist), Alexei Zhitnik (one goal, one assist) and Lonnie Loach (one goal, one assist).

Defenseman Darryl Sydor scored the game-winner at 4:18 of the third, breaking a 5-5 tie. It came shortly after an apparent goal by Donnelly was waved off by the video replay judge, Ron Foyt, who said Donnelly intentionally directed it in with his skate.

After Sydor’s goal, Gretzky helped set up Donnelly twice to put the game out of reach.

The North Stars bring out the best in Gretzky, who once had five goals against them.

His no-look pass on Granato’s second goal, at 8:57 of the second period, was the best of the night.

“Nobody else could have made that play,” King Coach Barry Melrose said. “We just looked at each other on the bench and said, ‘Holy cow, how did he ever see Tony there?’ ”

Gretzky talked about his long road back.

“Maybe the first seven or eight games after I came back, I played really well,” he said. “Maybe because the emotional excitement carried me through. Or maybe my conditioning level wasn’t what it should have been. I hadn’t done anything for 3 1/2 months.

“And I didn’t play well for seven or eight games. But the last three or four hockey games I’ve played with a lot more ease and a lot more smarts. I’ve been around the puck a lot more. I’ve felt a lot more comfortable.”

King Notes

King goaltender Rick Knickle received a fax from International Hockey League Commissioner Tom Barry, wishing him luck in his NHL debut, which should come within the week. Knickle retired from hockey for five months in the late 1980s, but returned the next season. . . . Right wing Dave Taylor was given medicine for the vertigo he has been suffering from since last week, according to King trainer Pete Demers. Taylor will be re-evaluated by a neurologist on Feb. 23.