Kings Lose Players, Win Game : Hockey: Granato and two defensemen go out, but L.A. turns back Dallas, 3-2, on Quinn’s goal.

Six defensemen became five by the end of the first period and dwindled to four by the third. But the Kings have done this drill before and they managed to overcome adversity one more time, defeating the Dallas Stars, 3-2, at the Forum before 15,125.

Although nearly every remaining game appears pivotal, Thursday night’s was a particularly important matchup considering the closeness in the standings. With the victory, the Kings (13-15-7) moved into a sixth-place tie with the Vancouver Canucks in the Western Conference, taking a three-point lead on the Stars.

At the end, the Kings were without forward Tony Granato and defensemen Marty McSorley and Rob Blake. McSorley, who delivered a one-sided pummeling of Star enforcer Shane Churla at 17:29 of the first period, received a two-minute minor for instigating the fight and an automatic game misconduct.

Five became four in the third period when Blake’s troublesome groin acted up again, tightening under game conditions. Blake has been limited to 11 games this season because of a strained groin, which he has injured twice. Most recently, Blake was out for 12 games after he reinjured himself on Jan. 28 at Winnipeg.

Blake won’t be making the trip for tonight’s game in Calgary. And neither will Granato, who left the game after blocking a shot in the first period. He was taken to a hospital, where X-rays revealed a broken left foot, and he will be out three to five weeks.

After the game the Kings called up left wing Jeff Shevalier from their minor league team in Phoenix. He will join the team for tonight’s game in Calgary.

Thus, the Kings were left with defensemen Darryl Sydor, Michel Petit, Rob Cowie and Chris Snell to carry the third-period load in support of goaltender Kelly Hrudey, who faced 46 shots in another stellar performance. The pace and workload took a toll on the four defensemen but they never wavered after forward Dan Quinn put the Kings in the lead for good at 4:39 of the third, scoring his 12th of the season.

“All four of them played great,” said Cap Raeder the assistant coach for the defense. “Those kids (Cowie and Snell) have been doing a great job. They’ve got ice water in their veins.”

Said Hrudey: “I’m comfortable with our ‘D.’ I thought they played great in the third. I thought that was their best period.”

The other King goals were scored by John Druce, his 14th, on the power play at 11:33 of the first period and by Wayne Gretzky at 4:23 of the second. Sydor had assists on both goals.

Gretzky’s goal from the base of the left circle helped the Kings climb back into the game at 2-2. The goal finished off a three-on-one with defenseman Craig Ludwig the only Star player back.

King forward Jari Kurri returned to the lineup and played the entire game but will not accompany the team to Calgary. He had missed seven of the last eight games because of a strained groin.

With the trading deadline today, the King attracting the most interest from other teams around the league appears to be Kurri, who even asked reporters last week if they had heard anything about his status. General Manager Sam McMaster said the team is not pursuing any specific players but is listening to various offers. “We’ve got very little going,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dallas forward Russ Courtnall returned to the lineup and played a regular shift, not surprising since star center Mike Modano is out for the rest of the season because of a ruptured tendon in his left ankle.

Courtnall, who lives in Los Angeles during the off-season, was given a plane ticket here last weekend after a falling-out with General Manager and Coach Bob Gainey, and was scratched for three consecutive games before Thursday.

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King Notes

The L.A. Sports Council is holding a luncheon Monday at the Hotel Intercontinental, a tribute to former King right wing Dave Taylor, who had his No. 18 jersey retired this week. King players and coaches are expected to attend. Tickets are $65. . . . Defenseman Arto Blomsten, acquired on March 28 from Winnipeg for an eighth-round draft pick, was sent to the Kings’ minor league team in Phoenix. He had one assist in four games with the Kings.