Hrudey Answers Questions on Ice and Off : Kings: Veteran goalie gets the start and ends his boycott of reporters after shutting down Flames.

It was like George Foreman refusing a meal, like Wayne Gretzky refusing an autograph-seeker.

For more than a month, King goaltender Kelly Hrudey, long known as one of hockey’s most personable players, had stuck to a self-imposed gag order.

Stung by what he saw as unjustified criticism, he had refused to speak to members of the Los Angeles print media.

Sunday, after working the Kings’ 6-3 playoff-opening victory over the Calgary Flames, Hrudey spoke out.

And out came a month’s worth of frustration and anger.

“I’ve taken the blame before when things go bad,” he said. “But I think I’ve taken too much blame. Well, I’m not going to take it any more. I’m going to fight back. I’m going to give my side of the story.”

He started Sunday.

Asked if he still reads newspapers, he said: “I read papers. Just not the sports section. Just because you have people writing comments doesn’t necessarily mean they are knowledgeable. There are a lot of dummies out there.”

And who are those dummies?

“Whoever you’re thinking about,” Hrudey said, “that’s probably who I’m talking about.”

There can be no disputing the record. Hrudey has struggled uncharacteristically at times this season. Since Feb. 1, his regular-season record is 6-7-1. At one point in the season, he had a 2-10-4 run. His 3.48 career goals-against average ballooned to 3.86 this season. Coming off three seasons in which he won 22, 26 and 26 games, he was 18-21-2 this year.

Throughout, he has struggled with rookie Robb Stauber and minor league veteran Rick Knickle for the starting job.

At times, Hrudey has simply not looked like the 11-year veteran who often held the club together when many around him had seemingly disappeared.

“He has been criticized,” said assistant coach Cap Raeder, who works with the goalies and is a former goalie himself. “There have been some rough times. The team has not always played well in front of him. And when the team has played well, he didn’t always do well. Yes, sometimes he has played some poor games. It goes with the territory. But he always comes back and gives his best. Always .”

Things had gotten bad enough to allow a debate over who should start Game 1 of this series: Hrudey, with 58 playoff games behind him, or Stauber, who has yet to experience a playoff minute.

Hrudey got the nod and the victory, turning the Flames away on 21 of 24 shots.

“He had lost some confidence,” Raeder said. “But he came out today excited. He has a lot to prove in his mind. He’s taken a lot of heat, but this was a big step.”

But only, Hrudey said, a first step.

“I’m still not the happiest guy in the world,” he said. “This was just one game. . . . I would not say the weight is off my shoulders. I’m just taking it minute by minute and hoping the minutes turn into games.”

When did he learn he would be Sunday’s starter?

“I knew long ago,” he said. “I knew months ago I would play in this game regardless of what the goofs said.”