Kings Watch Oilers Skate Past

King Coach Larry Robinson has run out of ways to express his exasperation, but his team apparently hasn’t run out of ways to squander leads and rack up dismal road losses.

Unaccountably deflated by a short-handed goal by Edmonton Oiler center Todd Marchant that tied the game at 1 in the first period, the Kings gave an ugly display of ineptitude Wednesday in a 7-2 loss before 13,537 at the Edmonton Coliseum. They were the all-too-willing victims of the first NHL goals by rookies Ralph Intranuovo and Greg de Vries, the first goal in two years by defenseman Donald Dufresne, a King briefly during the 1993-94 season, and the first career four-point game by Marchant.

Despite a game-opening goal by Wayne Gretzky--his first since Jan. 27 and only his second in 18 games--and a 9-0 lead in shots on goaltender Curtis Joseph--the Kings (18-29-14) dissembled after Marchant tapped in a pass from Kelly Buchberger at 12:36, while Doug Weight served a high-sticking penalty. Edmonton scored the next six goals, a tide halted by Vitali Yachmenev’s first goal since Jan. 6, but resumed with de Vries’ goal.

“We kind of self-destructed after that short-handed goal-against,” Robinson said. “It was a very poor effort for a team that’s fighting for a playoff spot. I’m very disappointed in a lot of players.”

The Kings’ road slump stretched to 1-17-4. The Kings haven’t won outside of California since a Nov. 7 victory at St. Louis, prompting Robinson to ask: “How do we turn it around? I’m open to suggestions . . .

“It’s the same old thing. We made one mistake and the next thing, the whole team falls apart. We’re supposed to have leaders to take charge. We die like a bunch of turtles. We bury our heads and say, ‘Oh [expletive]. Here we go again.’ As long as everything is going our way, we’re fine. As soon as there’s a little adversity, we fold like a bunch of folding chairs.”

Kelly Hrudey, starting his fifth consecutive game, wasn’t at fault. The Oilers (21-31-6) danced around the Kings’ defense with an ease that belies their 10th-place ranking in the Western Conference.

“I think I could have danced out there myself,” Robinson said.

After Marchant drew the Oilers even, Zdeno Ciger put them ahead at 14:31 of the first period by converting a drop pass from Doug Weight. Marchant intercepted a pass Gretzky intended for John Slaney and fed Intranuovo at 16:56, and the rout was on.

“It wasn’t the most fun game I’ve ever played,” said Hrudey, an Edmonton native, whose parents and brother were in the audience. “We all just really struggled. We always seem to take a few steps forward and a couple back. We have to persevere and be strong and find ways to stick together.”

Said Robinson: “I’ve tried everything. I’ve yelled at them. I’ve benched guys. It’s just an awful way to start this trip.”

King notes

St. Louis Blue GM/Coach Mike Keenan threatened to end trade talks with the Kings. “My take on the whole thing is that the Kings really have no intention of trading Wayne Gretzky and they’re going to let him get to free agency,” he said. “I don’t want to have people waste my time if they aren’t going to move him. . . . I don’t think Sam [McMaster, the Kings’ general manager] knows what he wants. But when I say that, I mean their whole management team, inclusive. I think Sam is just the pointman in these negotiations.”

Said McMaster: “I don’t understand why anybody would say we don’t know what we want. The Los Angeles Kings have always stated we want to re-sign Wayne Gretzky.” He said he spoke to Mike Barnett, Gretzky’s agent, several days ago and expected they would speak again soon. . . .

Defensemen Steven Finn, who had blood behind his eye after being hit by a puck, and Philippe Boucher, who had a sore wrist, didn’t play. Vitali Yachmenev returned after a one-game benching, but Yannic Perreault was scratched. . . . Oiler winger Louie DeBrusk got a gross misconduct and was ejected after pulling Marty McSorley’s hair in a second-period fight.