Superstar Summit Unpleasant for Lemieux and Penguins, 8-3 : Hockey: Gretzky has four assists as Kings win easily in rare meeting between NHL’s most recognizable players.

Between them, they have monopolized the last 13 NHL scoring titles and won 11 of the last 14 most-valuable-player trophies, but on-ice encounters between Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky have become rarities in recent years.

“I’ve had some problems, the back and the cancer,” Lemieux said of his bout with Hodgkin’s disease last season and summer surgery on a herniated back muscle. “It’s always a lot of fun when you have a chance to play against a good team, against Gretz and a few of the guys on that team.”

Gretzky and the Kings made the third game of Lemieux’s comeback--and the first Forum visit by Marty McSorley since being traded to Pittsburgh--anything but fun.

Gretzky had four assists, Tomas Sandstrom scored twice and Tim Watters scored his first goal in 132 games as the Kings routed the Penguins, 8-3, before a roaring sellout crowd of 16,005.

Lemieux, playing against Gretzky for only the third time in three seasons, had two assists after the Kings put the game out of reach. Lemieux, who is obviously in far from peak condition, has seven points this season, well behind Gretzky’s league-leading 35.

“I don’t look at it as a matchup. I look at it that they’re two-time champions in the last few years and (Lemieux) is part of their hockey club and I’d better do the best I can,” Gretzky said. “It was a big win for us. It’s easy to get up for games like this. If you can’t, you’re in the wrong sport.”

Goaltender Kelly Hrudey improved his record against Pittsburgh to 10-1 as a member of the Kings and 22-10-1 overall as the Penguins lost at the Forum for the eighth consecutive time and 14th time in 15 games since the 1983-84 season.

“We played awful,” Lemieux said, an ice pack taped to his back. “I didn’t have much jump out there. I’m still trying to find my legs and get going. This was my third game in seven months and it’s tough to go out and play the pace those guys play.”

McSorley was greeted with cheers and banners, but the fans’ affection faded when Shawn McEachern--for whom he was traded--bumped him off the puck to set up the Kings’ fourth goal. They also booed McSorley in his two third-period fights.

“It was a little difficult playing against him. We’ve been good friends a long time,” Gretzky said. “I wish him good luck.”

The Kings capitalized on their first power play, gained when Ulf Samuelsson hooked McEachern behind the net 48 seconds into the game. Luc Robitaille began the play with a pass to Gretzky from the left-wing boards to the right-wing corner. Gretzky drew defenseman Grant Jennings toward him before sliding a pass through Jennings’ skates and into the slot for Jari Kurri, who whipped a wrist shot past Tom Barrasso for his seventh goal of the season.

Kurri left in the second period after being struck on the right knee by a puck and suffering a bruise.

Barrasso made a sprawling save on a breakaway backhander by Gretzky at 2:50, but the Penguin goalie couldn’t stop Sandstrom’s rising, second-effort goal at 3:50. He also couldn’t do much on Brent Thompson’s first NHL goal, which came off a slick setup from Robitaille at 10:51.

The Kings extended their lead to 6-0 in the second period before the Penguins scored. Displaying mastery and versatility, the Kings scored once at even strength, once on a five-on-three advantage gained after Lemieux’s forearm shove of Doug Houda touched off a brief scuffle, and once short-handed before Kevin Stevens and Rick Tocchet spared the Penguins total embarrassment.

After Pat Conacher was foiled by Barrasso on a short-handed breakaway, the Kings cashed in their next breakaway for a 4-0 lead. McEachern made it possible by moving McSorley off the puck at the Kings’ blue line as McSorley turned and prepared to take a shot. Mike Donnelly picked up the loose puck and dashed up ice, finishing the play with an ice-skimming forehand shot.

Lemieux was in the penalty box--and defenseman Peter Taglianetti was in the dressing room after collecting 37 penalty minutes and an ejection--when Rob Blake ripped a shot past Barrasso at 11:48 for his sixth goal of the season. Watters recorded his first goal since March 2, 1990--and gave the Kings a 6-0 lead--when his slap shot found its way between Barrasso’s leg pads at 14:37.