Tonelli Saves Day for Kings Against Devils : Hockey: They blow 4-0 lead, but he scores in final period for 5-4 win over New Jersey. Sandstrom scores three goals.

In his 14-year NHL career, John Tonelli was often a star emblazoned in the headlines. Especially in the glory years a decade ago with the New York Islanders.

But at 33, his star has dimmed. And the only time he seemed to get his name in print was as part of trade rumors.

So it was particularly satisfying for Tonelli to return to the spotlight Tuesday night by scoring the winning goal in the Kings’ 5-4 victory over the New Jersey Devils before a sellout crowd of 16,005 at the Forum.

It was a game that almost got away as the Kings, led by Tomas Sandstrom’s three goals, raced to a 4-0 lead.

But the Devils, scoring in creative ways, tied it before Tonelli’s shot from the top of the left circle at 15:27 of the final period gave the Kings their sixth consecutive victory, improving their record to 15-4-1 and extending their home unbeaten streak to a record 11 games.

One Devil goal was scored on a 65-foot shot by John MacLean, who appeared to be icing the puck by backhanding it into the Kings’ zone.

Instead, the puck bounced off goalie Daniel Berthiaume’s pad, bounded forward and then took a backward bounce into the net, past an open-mouthed Berthiaume.

Sandstrom’s first goal was set up by Wayne Gretzky, who brought the puck down the left side, keeping one eye on Sandstrom and the other on defenseman Alexei Kasatonov in the slot.

Gretzky patiently kept the puck on his stick, waiting for Kasatonov to commit himself.

When the Soviet veteran finally made a move toward Gretzky, the Kings’ center made his move, sliding the puck to the onrushing Sandstrom.

New Jersey goalie Chris Terreri made it easier when he tumbled to the ice, allowing Sandstrom to flip the puck over his fallen body at the 9:50 mark of the opening period.

The second goal was all Sandstrom.

After taking a shot from the left side, he recovered the rebound, only to find both Terreri and defenseman Ken Daneyko in the crease.

No problem.

Sandstrom skated into the crease and collided with the pair. But before falling to the ice, he reached around and backhanded the puck into the net.

That goal came at the 19:08 mark.

While the second goal was pure skill, Sandstrom’s third, his 12th of the season, borrowed heavily on luck.

Shooting from behind the net at Terreri’s back, Sandstrom managed to carom the puck off the goalie’s right elbow into the net a minute and a half into the second period.

Minnesota Fats couldn’t have played it any better.

It was the Kings’ first hat trick of the season.

The Kings upped their edge to 4-0 when Dave Taylor’s shot from the right side was deflected in by Gretzky 7:58 into the period for his team-high 14th goal.

But the biggest goal was Tonelli’s.

“All I needed was for Tomas to see me,” said Tonelli of his deciding goal, scored off an assist from Sandstrom. “It was a great pass and I just cranked it.”

It was the fourth goal and seventh point for Tonelli, who has sat out four games this season.

“I wouldn’t call that frustrating,” he said. “Everybody likes to play. I just want to stay positive and help that way.”

Even when he heard the rumors last week that he might be shipped to the Buffalo Sabres?

“That was disappointing,” Tonelli acknowledged. “But when I heard it, I decided to work as hard as I can to stay here and be a part of this team.

“Nobody’s happy about not playing, but this is not the time and place to talk about it. That would be selfish. The team is No. 1.”

It’s No. 1 by three points in the Smythe Division over the runner-up Flames heading into the Thanksgiving Day showdown in Calgary.

Even some odd New Jersey goals couldn’t stop that. Kirk Muller got the Devils’ first and Peter Stastny kicked in the second with his skate.

After scoring on his 65-footer 5:53 into the final period, MacLean tied it, 4-4, at 8:40 with his fourth point of the evening.

After Muller’s shot was blocked by Berthiaume, MacLean lifted the rebound over the Kings’ goalie for his 13th goal.

Then Tonelli came to the rescue.

King Notes

The Kings had twice before put together 10-game unbeaten streaks at home, going 8-0-2 both times. The first was in October-November of 1972, the second in March of 1974.