Kings Make Their Point in the End : Hockey: Kurri scores with three seconds to play to tie Flames, 3-3.

No one would have been surprised if Wayne Gretzky had been a bit distracted here Monday.

There was really nothing special about Game No. 46 on the Kings’ schedule--that is, until they played the game. In the last week, Gretzky’s house was virtually ruined and, in St. Louis, his mother-in-law was seriously injured. But for at least one night, Gretzky escaped from his off-ice troubles with some help from his favorite linemate, Jari Kurri.

Gretzky and Kurri displayed some of their on-ice magic in the Kings’ 3-3 tie against the Calgary Flames at the America West Arena before a crowd of 14,684. Kurri had the big goal of the game with 3.5 seconds remaining in regulation, slapping a one-timer off a cross-ice pass from Gretzky.

All three King goals were on the power play and Gretzky had a hand in all three, scoring once and adding two assists. Kurri’s goal came with the Kings holding a five-on-three advantage with goaltender Kelly Hrudey pulled for an extra attacker and Flame defenseman Chris Dahlquist off for cross-checking Luc Robitaille.

“I didn’t have much time to get rid of the puck,” Kurri said. “I got rid of it as fast I could. We wanted to win the faceoff, try to get the puck to Wayne. When you have a guy like him passing you the puck, that makes it easier.”

Hrudey had a closer look than usual at the Gretzky-Kurri combination and could only shake his head in amazement.

“Gretz and Jari were so good it was ridiculous,” said Hrudey, who faced 42 shots. “I continue to shake my head sometime.”

Then Hrudey ticked off the things that Gretzky has been through in the last week--the destruction of his home, the serious injury to his mother-in-law, the crazy travel schedule and no real break because of the All-Star game.

“A game like that--he doesn’t get paid enough money,” Hrudey said. “Night in and night out, he never denies. He has nothing to prove and he continues to prove it.”

The Kings (18-23-5) had lost consecutive games before Monday night and wanted to start the post All-Star break on a good note. With the three-point night, Gretzky widened his lead in the NHL’s scoring race, moving eight points ahead of Detroit’s Sergei Fedorov, 85-77.

“As I’ve said many times before, without question Jari is the best one-timer to ever play the game,” Gretzky said.

For Kurri, it was one of those nights he would not give up. With 14.6 seconds remaining, his slap shot hit the crossbar and popped out. His teammates and the crowd--with a heavy King loyalty--thought the goal was in. It was reviewed and ruled no goal.

That’s the way it went for the Kings. In overtime, it appeared as though they won it when Tony Granato circled behind the net, came out to the side and put it past Flame goaltender Andrei Trefilov with 3:56 remaining, but referee Bob Shick blew the whistle because the net was dislodged.

King Notes

First, the earthquake rendered Wayne Gretzky’s home in Beverly Hills uninhabitable when he was in Philadelphia a week ago. His wife Janet Jones and his children and mother-in-law, Jean, then packed up and went back to St. Louis, which is where Jones grew up. In St. Louis, Jean was hit by a car, landed in a ditch and suffered a broken collarbone and needed a second skin graft for her leg on Monday. So far, there has been no infection, but Gretzky said if it happens, she may lose the leg. “It’s hard because her mom is a young 74,” Gretzky said. “She’s kind of our nanny.” Gretzky spent Sunday in St. Louis before joining the team here. He might have to live in a hotel when he returns to Los Angeles. The Gretzkys did have earthquake insurance. “The deductible is so high, we’re talking about a lot of money,” he said. “You’re almost hoping the house has to come down.”

The Kings’ practice facility, Iceoplex, in North Hills--owned in part by Luc Robitaille and former Steve Duchesne--suffered damage as well and the team will be practicing at Culver City the rest of the week. Due to the power loss, Iceoplex lost its ice and several tiles from the roof shook loose.