Oilers Defeat Kings, 6-3, End Forum Slump

Those last few days above the .500 mark sure were nice and peaceful for the Kings. They spent five days off with their families during the All-Star break, enjoying some quality time by not losing hockey games.

Reality intruded Tuesday night in the form of the regular season as the Kings lost, 6-3, to the Edmonton Oilers before a sellout crowd of 16,005 at the Forum. It was the first time the Oilers have won a regular-season game in Los Angeles since Nov. 30, 1989.

“This was a turning point for the Edmonton Oilers,” Coach Ted Green said.

Edmonton’s victory was its first against the Kings this season; the Oilers had been 0-3-1. Edmonton pulled within six points of the fourth-place Kings in the Smythe Division race for the final playoff spot.

The playoff spot isn’t a distant memory--yet. But the Kings (24-24-6) had been above .500 since the first week of the season. Back on Dec. 12, they were 20-8-3. The futility has gone on for more than two months as the Kings have won only five times since Dec. 8.

Lately, they haven’t won in five games, going 0-4-1, with their last victory coming against the San Jose Sharks on Jan. 26.

“There’s got to be a bright spot among all these things,” said defenseman Rob Blake, who received a game misconduct for his high-sticking major penalty in the second period.

“It’s like using a flashlight in a dark cave.”

Tuesday, the Kings’ offense came a little too late as they woke up for the final half of the third period. After two periods, they trailed, 5-2, and didn’t start showing some life until Tony Granato scored at 10:11, taking a pass from Wayne Gretzky and spinning and shooting from the slot. Goaltender Bill Ranford didn’t have a chance as it beat him in the top corner.

The other King goals came on a short-hander by Jari Kurri (22nd of the season) at 9:16 of the first period and a power-play goal by Luc Robitaille (37th) at 13:31.

Edmonton won by dominating the second period, scoring two goals on nine shots. With the Oilers ahead, 3-2, after one period, defenseman Dave Manson made the score 4-2 on a power-play goal at 2:19. The Oilers had a two-man advantage--the Kings were assessed a bench minor at 1:13 for too many men on the ice and Marty McSorley went off for high-sticking Shayne Corson at 2:23.

It took Edmonton only six seconds to score with the five-on-three advantage as Manson one-timed a pass from Petr Klima from the top of the right circle.

The Oilers took a three-goal lead into the third period, taking advantage of a shaky shift by King defensemen Charlie Huddy and Darryl Sydor. Sydor fell down trying to stop Corson from scoring and Huddy was nowhere to be seen near his own net. Corson looped around Hrudey and stuffed the puck in on the far side.

McSorley speared Craig Muni with 1.3 seconds remaining in the game. He received a five-minute major for spearing and an automatic game misconduct. Because this is his third stick-related major, McSorley will be suspended for two games.

“I don’t believe there’s been consistency on who’s getting those calls,” McSorley said. “The types of spearing calls I’ve had have been unbelievable.”

King Coach Barry Melrose was distressed at McSorley’s actions. “He can’t do that at the end of the game,” Milrose said. “We need him in the lineup. We’re all frustrated. . . . We all feel like breaking sticks or punching somebody. But you can’t do that, you’ve got to come out the next night and play harder.”

King Notes

Right wing Dave Taylor sat out Tuesday night’s game after he suffered dizziness following the morning skate. Taylor, who sat out 16 games after suffering a concussion on Nov. 14 against Edmonton, wasn’t about to take any chances. He had been back in the lineup since Dec. 29, proving to be one of the few steady, mistake-free players on the team with five goals and 12 points in 33 games. Left wing Lonnie Loach had been scheduled to sit out, but was re-inserted in the lineup.

Oft-injured right wing Tomas Sandstrom (broken jaw) will leave on Thursday to spend two weeks at his home in Sweden. Sandstrom, who suffered the injury Jan. 28 against Calgary, will be sidelined until early March. . . . Defenseman Tim Watters received a warm welcome from his teammates after he was recalled from the Kings’ farm club in Phoenix along with defenseman Rene Chapdelaine. “Muddy’s my hero,” said one King. The 33-year-old Watters had six points in 33 games with Phoenix but was brought back to provide a steadying influence.

Left wing Warren Rychel was pleased when he found out he would be playing on the same line with Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri. “Two years ago, I played on the same line with (Steve) Larmer and (Jeremy) Roenick and I had four points in the first game of the playoffs (with Chicago),” Rychel said. “You just got to go out and play the same way.”