Blake Makes the Difference for Kings in 4-2 Victory

It had been nearly a month since Robb Stauber started in goal.

It had been more than a month since Charlie Huddy had scored a goal.

It seemed like a month since the Kings had won a game.

But all that came to an end Wednesday night at the Forum where the Kings, sparked by Stauber in the net and the offense of their defensemen, beat the Chicago Blackhawks, 4-2, before a sellout crowd of 16,005.

The victory broke a three-game losing streak for the Kings and a slump in which they were 1-6-2 in their previous nine games.

But even in victory, the Kings, now 20-27-6, figure to be facing a loss. With 4:57 remaining to play, Tony Granato was assessed a match penalty for cracking his stick over the helmet of Chicago defenseman Neil Wilkinson. It was ruled a deliberate attempt to injure.

Granato and Wilkinson collided along the boards, Granato going down. Wilkinson stood over the King wing and appeared to taunt him.

Granato quickly got to his feet and smashed his stick over Wilkinson’s helmet, using both hands.

It was four-on-four for two minutes, leaving the Blackhawks with a man advantage for 2:57.

But they couldn’t take advantage, despite getting off seven shots after the penalty.

Stauber hadn’t started a game since Jan. 15 and hadn’t started a game on Forum ice all season.

But he got his chance when Coach Barry Melrose decided to give Kelly Hrudey a rest after nine consecutive starts.

And Stauber made the most of it, improving his record to 3-4-1.

The inactivity didn’t appear to affect Stauber. And it was just as well for his sake.

The Blackhawks came out firing, outshooting the Kings, 12-7, in the first period, 17-4 in the second and 51-23 for the game.

No problem.

The Kings actually seem to thrive on such adversity. They are now 3-0-2 in games in which they give up 50 or more shots.

Stauber faced 55 shots in a game earlier this season at Detroit, but the game wound up a 4-4 tie.

Chicago (25-23-6) got the first goal Wednesday, Dirk Graham scoring his 12th.

But Jari Kurri’s 22nd goal tied the score and Huddy’s third of the season put the Kings ahead for good. It was Huddy’s first goal since New Year’s Eve.

Blake’s two third-period goals, his 14th and 15 of the season, gave the Kings their winning margin.

Joe Murphy made it closer with his 20th.

But, despite Granato’s damaging blow, Chicago got no closer.

King Notes

Blackhawk defenseman Chris Chelios sat out, missing the fourth and final game of his suspension for gouging the eye of the Vancouver Canucks’ Dana Murzyn. . . . Defenseman Mark Hardy, who has spent 11 of his 15 professional seasons in the Kings’ organization, has been named assistant coach of the Phoenix Roadrunners, the Kings’ minor league club, under Coach Rick Dudley. Hardy, who has appeared in 25 games for the Roadrunners this season, will continue to play despite taking on his new duties. Hardy, 35, is the Kings’ all-time leading scorer among defensemen with 303 points.