Kings in Rare Form at Forum as Blues Lose

Shaky performances by a starting goaltender and a dearth of power-play goals have been an all-too-familiar sight for hockey fans at the Forum this season.

For once, though, the Kings weren’t the culprits as they won their first game at home in more than six weeks, defeating the St. Louis Blues, 5-3, on Monday night before 14,393. The victory halted an eight-game winless streak (0-6-2) at the Forum. Los Angeles is 9-13-5 overall and 3-9-3 at home this season.

The Kings had not won at home since beating Detroit on Feb. 4 and, after all the recent chaos, they are only one point out of a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Leading the Kings was Wayne Gretzky, with two-first-period goals and a second-period assist, and goaltender Kelly Hrudey, who faced 31 shots. Defenseman Darryl Sydor had three assists and forward Tony Granato scored twice.

Gretzky, clearly inspired, prospered even without his linemate, right wing Jari Kurri, who again is out with a strained groin. Kurri missed two games on the Kings’ recent trip with a hip flexor. He is not expected to play tonight in Anaheim and could miss three or four games.

This was the first time this season--and in a year--that Gretzky has scored twice in a game, with his second goal coming on a breakaway at 15:43. The last time he had two goals in a game was on March 20, 1994 in a 6-6 tie at San Jose the day Gretzky tied Gordie Howe’s all-time goal-scoring record.

“I just wasn’t taking chances,” Gretzky said. “About two weeks ago I had a talk with (Coach) Barry (Melrose) and Barry wants me to be more creative offensively. That’s the way I’ve got to play.”

Gretzky spoke about the criticism he had faced this season.

“It’s been the story of my life,” he said. “Everybody not believing what I can do and then they don’t believe I can do it anymore. I’ve always faced a challenge. I’m honest about myself. The last five or six games, I’ve gotten my game going again. I really feel a lot more confident.”

Gretzky, taking a hit from old nemesis Esa Tikkanen, was shook up about midway through the third period. He went directly to the bench and looked clearly in discomfort but came out and took his next shift.

Said Melrose: “He’ll have a great last 15 to 20 games and lead us into something special.”

And, Hrudey’s effort cannot be overlooked. Hrudey shut down Brendan Shanahan and Brett Hull when the two Blues’ forwards had a handful of first-period chances before the Kings were able to establish a comfortable lead.

Just two minutes into the game, Hrudey stopped Hull on a shorthanded breakaway and seconds later Hull and Shanahan were denied on a two-on-one attack.

Said St. Louis GM and Coach Mike Keenan: “I think (the Kings) played very poorly in the first period but Wayne Gretzky made the most of his opportunities. We had the chance to make the game of it but our power-play wasn’t up to it. Our goalies didn’t give us the key save.”

Keenan pulled starter Curtis Joseph after he allowed three goals on eight shots, replacing him with Jon Casey at 4:42 of the second period. Granato scored the fourth goal at 5:16, on the first shot against Casey.

The Kings built a 4-0 lead before the Blues broke through with center Adam Creighton’s late second-period goal, at 16:30. Hrudey was flawless on the Blues’ first 17 shots, but Creighton scored by picking off a rebound off the side of the net on Murray Baron’s initial shot.

King Notes

Rookie Chris Snell, who has played well since his recall from Phoenix March 10, recorded his first NHL point, assisting on Tony Granato’s second-period goal at 5:16.