Broten Is Sympathetic After He Beats Kings

If the Kings thought they had problems before Sunday night, then former King Neal Broten poured salt on their wounds with a game-winning overtime goal in the Dallas Stars’ 2-1 victory before 16,551 at Reunion Arena.

Playing in his fifth game since being claimed off waivers by the Stars, Broten, who also had a first period assist, knocked in a rebound off the mask of goalie Stephane Fiset with 43.1 seconds remaining to hand the Kings their seventh loss in 10 games.

With Dimitri Khristich, Yanic Perreault, Kai Nurminen and Aki Berg out because of injuries and Rob Blake and Matt Johnson serving league suspensions, the Kings had four players in uniform who have spent most of the season in the minors.

“They were like a different team out there with a whole bunch of new guys,” said Broten, who less than two weeks ago wore a King uniform against Dallas before being picked up by the Stars on Jan. 28. “I feel bad for those guys because they are really going through tough times now.”

Broten, who earlier this season talked about retirement, may have sympathy for his former team but he’ll gladly take his current situation. Broten played for the Minnesota North Stars and Dallas from 1979 to 1995 before being traded to New Jersey.

He played on the Devils’ Stanley Cup championship team but was demoted to the minors early this season before the Kings acquired him in a November trade. In 22 games with the Kings and the Devils, Broten’s had no goals and five assists Since rejoining the Stars, Broten has five points in five games and has scored goals in three consecutive games.

“It’s just been awesome coming back here, everyone has been so positive,” said Broten, the last active player who was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic gold medal hockey team. “It feels so great coming back and playing well. I didn’t know when was the last time I scored a goal until a few games ago, let alone an overtime game-winning goal.”

The Stars, who lead the Central Division with a 32-20-4 record, needed Broten’s heroics as they played their fourth game in five nights and their second consecutive overtime game. Dallas also was playing without top scorer Mike Modano, who was out because of flu.

“This was a game we should have never lost,” Coach Larry Robinson said. “They looked a little tired out there tonight, but I’m disappointed that some of our guys played a little soft.”

For 64 minutes and 16.9 seconds, the Kings played like a team determined to steal at least a point to keep their fading playoff hopes alive. The Kings rallied back from an early goal scored by the Stars’ Pat Verbeek to tie the score on a third period goal by Kevin Stevens.

The Kings even had a couple of chances to take the lead in regulation but were stopped by Dallas goalie Andy Moog, who made 26 saves to improve to 22-11-3.

In overtime, the Kings kept their momentum until Broten’s game-winning goal. On the play, Broten won a faceoff against Ray Ferraro, deflected a slap shot by Derian Hatcher against Fiset’s stick and then chased down the rebound slightly behind the right post.

“I didn’t want him to make a pass in front so I dived,” Fiset said about Broten’s goal. “But, it hit my mask and went right in.”

With each loss, the Kings appear destined to not reach the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year. After 55 games, they have 44 points, four less than they had at this point last season.

“We came out and really competed hard but there’s a fine line between being competitive and finding a way to win,” King forward Eddie Olcyzk said.

“We’re past frustration now. Our games are dwindling. We have to win right now.”

Added Robinson on losing with only 43.1 seconds remaining in overtime: “That’s just the way our luck has been going this season. We’ve given up a lot of goals like that and have not had too many go in for us.”