Kings’ Shortest Season Is Ended : Hockey: They lose to Blackhawks, 5-1, and miss playoffs for the second time in a row. Gretzky says he won’t play anywhere but Los Angeles next season.

What was initially perceived as a one-year aberration officially gave way to a full-blown trend as the Kings missed the playoffs for the second consecutive time, finishing a disappointing season in dismal fashion, losing, 5-1, to the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday at the United Center.

It is the first time the Kings (16-23-9) have missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons since 1982-83 and 1983-84.

Afterward, the Kings’ Wayne Gretzky addressed questions regarding his future. He finished with 11 goals and 48 points in 48 games and there has been speculation about his continued presence in a King uniform--or any uniform.

“I want to come back, maybe they don’t want me back,” Gretzky said, smiling.

“I don’t plan on playing anywhere else than L.A. The whole organization has been great to me. And so have the fans. I have no intention of going anywhere else. We all want to rethink what direction we’re going. When you miss the playoffs two years in a row, the organization has to think of sweeping changes. The fans deserve better.”

This has been a hard fall from grace. Only two years ago, the Kings reached the Stanley Cup finals, losing to Montreal in five games. Now, they are a mere shell of that organization, having been dismantled in the quixotic quest of creating a bigger, stronger team.

“We went too much overboard,” said team President and interim Coach Rogie Vachon.

Big and strong couldn’t generate much offense all season. The Kings’ shortcomings and lack of depth became more glaring once Tony Granato went out with a broken foot and Rick Tocchet sat out 12 of the last 15 games because of a strained lower back, including Wednesday’s finale. The Kings’ offense dried up, and they lost eight of their final nine road games and were shut out three times during that stretch.

Chicago and goaltender Ed Belfour--winners of the Jennings Trophy for fewest goals given up by a team--nearly did again. Belfour, who wasn’t exactly busy through the first two periods, facing only 12 shots, was flawless until Dan Quinn ended his shutout bid at 15:37 of the third period. Chicago clinched home-ice advantage against Toronto in the first round and the Kings made the path easier by generating only two shots on goal in the first 11 minutes.

After one period, the Kings trailed, 1-0, not a positive sign for them. They finished 0-18-1 when trailing after one period.

The Blackhawks found scoring from different sources Wednesday. Aging center Denis Savard scored once, as did defensemen Gerald Diduck and Eric Weinrich. Left wing Patrick Poulin scored twice, the second coming on an empty-netter at 18:02 with King goaltender Grant Fuhr pulled for an extra attacker.

“They beat us pretty handily,” defenseman Rob Blake said. “We didn’t have much going. It was a big game and we came out flat. It was a bunch of things. We’ve got to get a better effort. Missing the playoffs two years in a row isn’t acceptable.”

Said King goaltender Kelly Hrudey: “It’s disappointing and I guess that just doesn’t describe it. Even more so than last year. Last year, the writing was on the wall. We all thought we had a chance.”

There are always what-ifs and maybes in any season. And Gretzky lamented two games the Kings let slip away. They squandered a two-goal lead in the final 61 seconds in a 5-5 tie against St. Louis on Feb. 7 and more recently let the Oilers climb back to a 3-3 tie on April 21 in the final 3:24.

Gretzky even singled out a penalty that led to an Oiler power-play goal when Jiri Slegr scored with 3:24 remaining to cut the lead to 3-2.

“It was a horrible call,” he said. “It was a call that cost this organization millions of dollars. When you give away points, that’s what you remember. We dug ourselves in a hole in this position. It’s nobody’s fault. I’m not blaming anyone.”

Blame most certainly will be assigned during another lengthy King off-season. Vachon promised sweeping changes, trying to address the problems of scoring and speed. He also has to find a new coach.

Said Gretzky: “This organization will have to make a decision--whether we’re going to go for it or go totally youth-oriented.”

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NHL Playoffs

First-round matchups. Number in parentheses indicates playoff seeding: EASTERN CONFERENCE

* Quebec Nordiques (1) vs. New York Rangers (8)

* Pittsburgh Penguins (2) vs. Buffalo Sabres (7)

* Philadelphia Flyers (3) vs. Washington Capitals (6)

* Boston Bruins (4) vs. New Jersey Devils (5)

WESTERN CONFERENCE

* Detroit Red Wings (1) vs. Dallas Stars (8)

* St. Louis Blues (2) vs. San Jose Sharks (7)

* Calgary Flames (3) vs. Vancouver Canucks (6)

* Chicago Blackhawks (4) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (5)