An Instant Worth a King’s Ransom : Game 6: Gretzky and Robitaille, both among missing in this series, combine for winning goal.

Ninety-nine times out of 100, Wayne Gretzky, would go behind the net in the situation in which he found himself.

It was overtime at the Forum Thursday night, Game 6 of the Campbell Conference finals, a berth in the Stanley Cup finals at stake.

In the right corner of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ zone, Kings Tomas Sandstrom and Luc Robitaille were battling for a loose puck.

Robitaille had been battling the whole series to get out of a slump that had seen him contribute only one assist in five games. This was the same man who had 125 points, including 63 goals, during the regular season.

But it had already turned around for Robitaille Thursday night. He had broken out of his slump with a goal and two assists.

So when he finally controlled that loose puck in the right corner, Gretzky played a hunch.

Instead of going behind the net, he skated in front of goalie Felix Potvin, near the left post.

“I had a feeling I might wind up with the puck, with the way (Robitaille) was playing,” Gretzky said.

But would Robitaille even see Gretzky? “I was going to go to the point or shoot,” Robitaille said, “but I saw him (Gretzky) at the last second.”

It almost didn’t matter. Robitaille’s pass was nearly intercepted by defenseman Bob Rouse. Instead, the puck skittered off Rouse’s stick to the waiting Gretzky.

Free of all the Maple Leafs, Gretzky had an instant to contemplate his move.

Only an instant.

But he remembered the advice that had been drilled into the head of every King since this series began: Go up high on Potvin.

“I knew I had to go upstairs,” Gretzky said. “I was afraid the guy would spread his pads out, which he did.”

No matter.

Gretzky, the greatest goal-scorer in NHL playoff history, smoothly flipped the puck over Potvin.

Kings 5, Toronto 4.

Both Gretzky and Robitaille, the Kings’ two biggest offensive threats, have been among the missing at times in this series.

“I don’t think we ever went anywhere,” Gretzky said. “We are tied 3-3 in the Stanley Cup semifinals.”

For Gretzky, it was career postseason goal No. 105, No. 10 this season and No. 2 in this series.

All the numbers paled in comparison to the moment.

Gretzky raised his arms in celebration. For the moment at least, this goal seemed to tower above all the others.

“An old coach,” Gretzky said, “told me one time that you’re going to get held and you’re going to get checked in big playoff games, so make sure, if you score, it’s a big goal. I couldn’t have picked a bigger goal.”

But even in the midst of this huge triumph, Gretzky’s mind focused on the value of the moment.

Even as his teammates mobbed him, he wanted a lasting souvenir of the momentous achievement.

“Grab the puck,” he yelled.

Never mind that, thought teammate Jari Kurri.

“Grab the net,” Kurri screamed.