Buchberger Likes Fit With New Team

Kelly Buchberger is developing a knack for scoring big goals.

The gritty winger, who was acquired by the Kings from Atlanta March 13, scored the tying goal Saturday in their 2-1 victory over the Mighty Ducks. He also scored their only goal Wednesday in a 1-1 tie with San Jose.

A tie Saturday would have been enough for the Kings to clinch a playoff spot, but it wouldn’t have been enough for Buchberger. “I don’t think any team really plays for a tie,” he said. “Every point is crucial at this time of year. The Ducks are fighting to get into the playoffs and a point would have been great for them. We played really hard.”

Buchberger has played with an assortment of linemates but feels comfortable with his new team.

“The system they’re playing, I’m getting a lot more used to,” he said. “It’s pretty easy to fit into this team. It’s like a family. The guys are great and I’ve enjoyed every day since I’ve been here.”

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Individual tickets for the first round of the playoffs will go on sale Friday at 5 p.m. through the Staples Center box office, TicketMaster or by calling (213) 265-3600.

Prices for the first round will be $108.50, $105, $85, $65, $55.50, $35.50, $28.50 and $17.50, an average 10% increase over regular-season prices.

If the standings remain unchanged, the Kings’ first-round opponent would be the fourth-seeded Detroit Red Wings. However, the Red Wings still can pass the St. Louis Blues for the Central Division lead and improve their seeding.

If the Kings and Red Wings meet, it’s likely the first two games will be April 13 and 15 at Detroit, with Games 3 and 4 at Staples Center April 17 and 19. However, those dates are tentative.

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Down but defiant, the Ducks vowed to rebound from the loss to the Kings with a strong effort Monday against the Nashville Predators at the Arrowhead Pond.

“Going into our last five, we said we would need to win four out of five,” captain Paul Kariya said. “This game is over and done with. We’ve got to move on. We’ll be ready Monday. There’s nothing we can do about [Saturday’s game] now.”

Added winger Ted Donato: “We’ve got four games left and we’ve got to win them. Every game is enormous. It’s a little bit of an emotional roller-coaster we’ve been on, but we’re a strong-willed group. We’ll bounce back.”

After hosting the Predators, the Ducks play Wednesday at Chicago and Friday at Nashville before returning to the Pond for the season-finale April 9 against the Kings.

The Ducks are 2-0 this season against Nashville, 3-0-1 against Chicago and 2-1-2 against the Kings.

“There’s still a lot of fight left in this locker room,” Donato said.

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The Ducks held the Kings without a shot on net in the first period, the first time in Anaheim’s seven-season history an opponent failed to record at least one shot on goal in a period.

“It doesn’t help us any to keep them down in shots if they score goals,” Donato said, referring to Buchberger’s goal on the Kings’ first shot 4:29 into the second period.

Through the first period Saturday, the Ducks had outshot the opposition, 42-7, over 64 minutes of play dating to the start of the second period of their 4-3 overtime victory March 26 against the Phoenix Coyotes.

“Obviously, we’re in a desperate situation,” Kariya said. “You do whatever it takes--blocking shots, putting more pressure on the other team’s forwards.”

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Duck left wing Marty McInnis reported no significant pain after playing his first game since March 8. He had missed 20 of 27 games because of a groin injury.

“I probably would feel a lot better if we had won,” said McInnis, who logged 11 1/2 minutes of ice time. “It was good to be a part of things again. I felt fine out there. We’ll see how it feels [today].”

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The Kings signed college free-agent defenseman Mike Pudlick to a contract for the 2000-01 season. Pudlick, 22, had eight goals and 30 points in 40 games during his sophomore season at St. Cloud (Minn.) State. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound native of Blaine, Minn., will finish classes before reporting to the Kings. . . . King Coach Andy Murray said Jamie Storr will start in goal for the Kings in their next game, Monday at Phoenix. Stephane Fiset has started the last five.

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Senior forward Tyler Hathaway scored 55 seconds into overtime to give Manhattan Beach Mira Costa High a 1-0 victory over Loyola in the first Los Angeles County Ice Section championship game, played Saturday morning at Staples Center. Mira Costa goalie Mike Davis stopped 20 shots.