Gretzky’s Goal Gets Kings a Tie : Hockey: For the third time this season, L.A. plays to a draw with Vancouver, 2-2. Kurri breaks thumb.

Whether it’s a fast-paced, offense-first type game or a defensive struggle, the Kings and Vancouver Canucks are ready to deliver the same result each time they play.

A trio of ties.

Wayne Gretzky’s fluke goal with 1:51 remaining in regulation prevented the Kings from falling below .500 for the first time this season as the Kings tied the Canucks, 2-2, in overtime on Wednesday night before 13,175 at the Forum.

The Kings (13-13-7) tied the Canucks for the third time in three meetings this season. Gretzky nearly won it in the final seconds of regulation as he launched a slap shot from the left circle with three seconds left, a blast that Canuck goaltender Kirk McLean could barely handle.

In overtime, the Canucks had three shots on goal and the Kings two. Vancouver outshot the Kings, 49-40. This was the 12th time the Kings have yielded 40 or more shots on goal in a game this season.

Luckily, goaltender Kelly Hrudey was particularly sharp and kept them in it until the Kings stirred late in the third period. “It was a fun game to play,” Hrudey said. “It was the most competitive game since I’ve been back. They really seem to raise their level of play against us and we do too against them. It was a fight to the finish.”

The Kings were without forward Jari Kurri for a good part of the third. Kurri left at 8:11 because of an injured right thumb after getting slashed and did not return.

He went to a nearby hospital for X-rays, which revealed that the thumb was broken. Kurri is expected to be out for at least two weeks. He didn’t know who slashed him, saying with a laugh, “Two guys.”

As for Gretzky, he was active all night, even throwing a leveling check at defenseman Dana Murzyn and later drawing a penalty in the second period. “He probably has me 30-1,” Gretzky said of Murzyn. “I’ve got to keep up my penalty minutes.”

Against the Canucks, he opted to shoot more often than pass. But a simple centering pass out front from the left corner gave Gretzky his ninth goal of the season as the puck glanced off Canuck defenseman Bret Hedican’s skate and went past a stunned McLean.

“I had six or seven point-blank chances, and the one that counts is least likely to go in,” said Gretzky, who had six shots on goal. “I’d like to have the last one again. If I had known there was three seconds left, I could have taken one more step in.”

Said King Coach Larry Robinson: “Wayne looked determined and focused and looked like he wanted to get involved. That’s the type of play I need from him.”

Until Gretzky’s tying goal, the Kings were reeling in the third period. Vancouver outshot the Kings, 13-3, in the first 11:49 of the third. Then Vancouver rookie right wing Scott Walker gave the Canucks a 2-1 lead, their first lead of the game, at 14:29.

Yanic Perreault gave the Kings a 1-0 lead at 11:46 of the first period. Vancouver right wing Trevor Linden tied it, 1-1, with his 17th goal of the season, at 11:18 of the second.

Meanwhile, the attendance was announced as 13,175, but that clearly didn’t take into account the significant number of no-shows. After 18 home dates, the Kings are averaging 13,692, which includes two sellouts.

The drop-off is especially telling compared to the last two seasons. Last season, the Kings had recorded 10 sellouts and were averaging 15,266 after 18 home dates. In 1993-94, they had 13 sellouts of the first 18 games at the Forum and averaged 15,543.

King Notes

Wayne Gretzky and Coach Larry Robinson used almost the same words when discussing Gretzky’s future with the team. “It’s up to him as to how long he wants to play,” Robinson said. “The ball is in his court.” Gretzky had used the same tennis metaphor too, putting the onus on ownership, adding: “They could go in different avenues that they’re able to explore. The longer it goes on, the more options become available to everyone.” . . . And on the day after holdout Joe Nieuwendyk went from Calgary to Western Conference rival Dallas and the Canucks acquired defenseman Frantisek Kucera and Jim Dowd in a three-way deal with the Devils and Whalers, the only new development for the Kings was the assignment of right wing Kevin Brown to Phoenix of the International Hockey League. Brown had one goal in seven games and a defensive rating of minus-two. . . . Defenseman Steve Finn sat out his fourth consecutive game because of a pulled groin. He may return to play Friday in San Jose.