Blake, Kings Give It Away as Oilers Stage Rare Rally

Even though the Edmonton Oilers had not won a game this season when they trailed after two periods, an 0-20-5 record, King Coach Barry Melrose mentioned the things that could change the outcome.

Mistakes.

Defenseman Rob Blake heard the words in the intermission between the second and third periods and made Melrose’s words seem prophetic in the final minutes here on Wednesday night. Blake’s errant pass up the middle was batted down by Edmonton center Craig MacTavish, who scored the game-winner with 5:58 remaining, leading the Oilers to a 6-4 victory over the Kings before 14,238 at Northlands Coliseum.

It was a crushing loss for the Kings (19-26-6), who have won once in eight games, going 1-5-2. The Oilers, pulling within eight points of the Kings in the Pacific Division, had not won since Jan. 9 against Chicago and ended a nine-game winless streak.

And the Kings had two injured players back in the lineup--Luc Robitaille and Tony Granato, who both missed Monday’s game in Vancouver. Wayne Gretzky, still bothered by a sore neck, had said he might sit out but ended up playing and scoring a goal.

But on this night, mistakes lost it for the Kings. And Blake was not the sole villain.

He had plenty of company as the Kings’ defensemen turned in a shoddy collective effort. But he took complete responsibility.

“It was a stupid play by me. What was I doing?” Blake said. “You never go up the middle with five minutes left in the game.

“This was such an important game. It was a stupid, stupid, stupid mistake.”

MacTavish, alone in the high slot, knocked down Blake’s pass and blasted a shot past King goaltender Kelly Hrudey, beating him on the glove side. Then MacTavish completed the scoring with an empty-netter at 19:54 after Hrudey had been pulled for an extra attacker.

Said MacTavish: “I kind of anticipated that he would throw it up the middle, to be honest. I think he was shielded. I got fortunate. He doesn’t make that mistake very often.”

Said Blake: “I don’t know why I made the pass. As soon as I did it, I knew something would happen. I put the puck right on stick, you couldn’t ask for much better. I’m not showing the right example. We’ve got to win some hockey games.”

Said center Pat Conacher: “We made some mistakes and they capitalized. We were our own worst enemies. Sometimes simple plays are overlooked in the game. Put it (the puck) up the boards. Why take a chance?

“It’s everybody. Everyone was making mistakes.”

It was especially difficult since the Kings had established leads of 2-0 and 3-1. They took a 3-1 lead at 12:08 of the second period when Gretzky scored from the right crease off a pinpoint pass from Jari Kurri. With the goal, his 25th of the season, Gretzky is 11 goals away from tying Gordie Howe’s all-time record of 801.

But the Oilers tied it by scoring twice in the next 2:37. Kurri scored his 21st of the season to give the Kings a 4-3 lead with 23 seconds remaining in the second. The goal was his 545th, moving him past Maurice Richard for sole possession of 10th place.

King Notes

New York Ranger General Manager Neil Smith said Wednesday he has been talking to the Kings about re-acquiring forward Tomas Sandstrom. Both sides said a deal is not imminent, but it has been discussed. The Kings have always thought highly of Ranger defenseman Jeff Beukeboom, who would provide a much-needed physical presence. One reason the Kings might be willing to move Sandstrom: He is playing out his option. Sandstrom, who is making $1.33 million this season, said he and his agent have not had any serious contract talks with the Kings this season.