Kurri-Gretzky-Currie Power Kings’ 9-1 Victory Over Blues : Hockey: The line combines for seven points. McEachern adds two short-handed goals and Hrudey makes 44 saves.

Over and over, the thought drifted through the minds of the Kings’ coaches and management during this month-long slump.

If only they could get their forwards to play half as well as Jari Kurri has been performing all season. Since they couldn’t go out and clone Kurri, they got someone with a similar name--Dan Currie, calling him up from their minor league team in Phoenix last week.

With Currie on his left side and Wayne Gretzky in the middle, Kurri went to work with one goal, two assists and solid two-way play in the Kings’ 9-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Saturday. For the Kings (11-15-2), it was their third victory in 13 games and second in their last 10. Goaltender Kelly Hrudey helped secure it with 44 saves.

They won this one with nine consecutive goals--including two short-handed goals by center Shawn McEachern--after the Blues took a one-goal lead.

The line of Currie, Gretzky and Kurri combined for seven points before the game turned into an offensive blowout, a welcome relief for the Kings and the sellout crowd of 16,005 at the Forum. Gretzky had two assists, and Currie scored his first goal and added an assist in his King debut.

“Jari and I played with him in Edmonton,” Gretzky said. “He’s a natural goal-scorer, and he will hit people and create openings. Now he’s got a chance, a break. I think he played well with us.”

Said Currie, 25: “They are two of the best players to ever play the game. I would get in an open spot, and they made my job easier. I was a little nervous but it (changed) once I got out there. It was a big win for us.”

That was the understatement of the night. Owner Bruce McNall was wearing the biggest smile in the happy Kings’ locker room. Hrudey suggested that the team was helped and relaxed by its appearance at a charity game in Anaheim on Thursday. “We stopped moping,” he said.

As for Gretzky, he looked relieved as well as a little annoyed when asked about recent criticism of King Coach Barry Melrose, which hinted he might deserve to be fired if the losing continued on the upcoming trip.

“It’s crazy,” he said, shaking his head. “He (Melrose) has been encouraging with each and every guy. He’s handled it very well, and he has been the backbone of this team. He’s been positive with each player. He’s been backing each player and has been open to talking to them.”

What helped Saturday was the collective effort as defenseman Darryl Sydor scored twice and added one assist. McEachern had three points and forward Tony Granato had three assists. The other goals were scored by Tomas Sandstrom (No. 9), John Druce (No. 2) and Jimmy Carson (No. 4).

They never panicked after the Blues’ Kevin Miller scored a power-play goal at 1:57 of the first. The Kings have scored the game’s first goal in only eight of their 28 games.

But the game turned in a span of 3:04 in the second period when the Kings scored three goals to take a 4-1 lead after they finished the first period tied 1-1.

King Notes

Coach Barry Melrose found out he has a deviated septum and will undergo surgery Dec. 21 after the Kings return from their five-game trip. The problem stems from his playing days and has been worsened by smog in Los Angeles. . . . Defenseman Alexei Zhitnik was scheduled to play, but came down with flu several hours before the game and was scratched. Zhitnik has six goals and 16 points in 25 games. Defenseman Doug Houda, who was going to sit out, replaced Zhitnik in the lineup. The Kings recalled defenseman Dominic Lavoie from Phoenix. He will accompany them to Ottawa because Zhitnik might stay in Los Angeles for the start of the trip.

The other scratches were forwards Dave Taylor, Phil Crowe and Gary Shuchuk. Defenseman Mark Hardy, recalled on Thursday from Phoenix, played his first game with the Kings since Nov. 3. Defenseman Tim Watters, who had been scratched in eight of the last 10 games, killed penalties against the Blues.