Kings Get 2-2 Tie on Somber Night

MONTREAL —  This is a city in mourning. The mass murders last Wednesday of 14 women by a gunman at the University of Montreal has left this town in shock.

Understandably, people here are not into celebrating. That was obvious Monday night at the Forum where the return of defenseman Larry Robinson, now a King after 17 seasons as a Canadien, was greeted only with polite applause from the crowd of 17,899.

That was fine with the 38-year-old Robinson. After his old team and his new club skated to a 2-2 tie, he put aside his own emotions over his much-awaited return for a moment to deal with the feelings he shares with so many others as a longtime resident of this city.

“The reaction of the crowd shows you the depth of this tragedy,” he said. “It’s a terrible thing that happened, but maybe it will bring the country and the province together.”

He was referring to the dispute between Quebec and the other Canadian provinces over language and cultural differences.

But despite the mood, Robinson had to take some comfort in the play of his teammates. One day after being criticized by Robinson for a sloppy defensive effort against the Quebec Nordiques, the Kings (15-12-3) tightened up considerably.

Nor was there any letup in goal where coach Tom Webster gave his regular starter, Kelly Hrudey, a day off, and went with backup Mario Gosselin.

Gosselin, whose last regular-season start was nearly a month ago, faced 31 shots, saving 29.

“He deserves to play a little bit more,” said Webster, who also gave the seven-year veteran the start last week in an exhibition game against the Soviet Union.

“Good,” Gosselin replied when told of his coach’s remark. “I work hard in practice, but the timing is different in a game.”

Gosselin was given a lead in the final five seconds of the first period when defenseman Brian Benning, on the power play, bounced a shot off the stick of Craig Ludwig and the glove of Montreal goalie Brian Hayward. King center Bernie Nicholls was waiting by the left post to tip the puck back in for his 21st goal of the season. It was his seventh on the power play.

Nicholls didn’t figure to be in there at all. Certainly not when he arrived at the Forum with a bruised ankle, knee and lower back, all from Sunday’s game.

“It (the injuries) didn’t feel good in warmups,” he said. “But I didn’t want to say anything.”

The Canadiens had their say at 2:06 of the second period when Mats Naslund scored his 12th goal of the season on a power-play, redirecting a shot by Jyrki Lumme, who fired from the middle of the right circle.

Montreal went ahead at 17:18 of the period when Stephane Richer took a pass from Chris Chelios just short of the red line, carried the puck all the way to the Kings goal with Benning in futile pursuit, faked a forehand and then put in the backhand from five feet out. It was Richer’s 17th goal.

The score stayed 2-1 until the 8:13 mark of the third period when King Mike Krushelnyski drove around Lumme from the right side and centered the puck in front of the goal where a waiting Mikko Makela bounced it in off the left post.

It was Makela’s first goal in 16 games and his first as a King. He has played six games with the club since arriving in a trade with the New York Islanders.

Gretzky also got an assist on that goal, giving him at least one in 16 straight games, one shy of the league record, co-held by himself and Paul Coffey.

But this night belonged to Robinson, despite the low-key reception.

“It wasn’t low-key for me,” he said. “I was more nervous before the game. I started to perspire.

“I really hoped there wouldn’t be a big crowd reaction. It’s hard enough to have to play without the added burden on your shoulders.”

But Monday in Montreal, a whole city was feeling an added burden.

And, for at least one night, Robinson was again united with his fellow countryman.

In grief.

King Notes

The Kings are now 1-14-2 here over the last decade . . . The Kings have called up center Todd Elik, 23, from the New Haven Nighthawks, their American Hockey League farm team. With 42 points (19 goals, 23 assists) in 31 games, Elik was the third leading scorer in the AHL. He played just one shift Monday night, on a line with Mike Krushelnyski and Mikko Makela.

The Canadiens, known as Les Habitants or simply the Habs in this town, are currently the Hab-nots. Five players are out with injures. Right winger Claude Lemieux, suffering from a muscle tear in the abdominal area, made his only appearance of the year in a game back in October. Also out are center Shayne Corson (fractured toe), defenseman Donald Dufresne (shoulder bruise), center Andrew Cassels (shoulder separation) and defenseman Jean-Jacques Daigneault (hyperextended knee)...There’s no stopping Wayne Gretzky’s scoring output, even when he’s not on the ice . The Kings’ final goal Sunday, scored with one second to play against Quebec, was originally given to Bernie Nicholls. But further review of the game tape, long after the Kings had departed for Montreal, caused the official scorer to change his mind and give the goal to Gretzky, ruling the puck had deflected off his stick before tumbling into the net. That gives Gretzky 15 goals and a league-leading 63 points.

Defenseman Tom Laidlaw remains in Los Angeles for treatment of a laceration above the right eye, suffered Sunday in the Quebec game when he was inadvertently hit by the stick of teammate Dave Taylor . . . Ironically, the wives of both men, Beth Taylor and Piper Laidlaw will represent the team today at the USC Women’s Hospital and Pediatric Pavilion where they’ll distribute gifts to underprivileged women and holiday gifts for the kids . . . Gretzky received the insignia of an officer of the Order of Canada Sunday in Quebec City. The country’s highest distinction, the Order of Canada honors citizens for outstanding merit and public service. Gretzky was appointed an officer last summer. . . .