[0] CANADIENS SEE WHOLE NEW KINGS : KINGS 4, CANADIENS 1.

Byline: Tim Trepany Daily News Staff Writer

The last time they played the Montreal Canadiens was just a blur to the Kings.

At least that's how the swift-skating Canadiens appeared to the Kings four weeks ago, prompting Coach Larry Robinson to say his players looked like they were wearing ``cement boots'' in the three-goal rout.

Things were different in the rematch Thursday. The only cement found was in the wall the Kings put up in their defensive zone. They limited the Canadiens' chances and emerged with a 4-1 victory before an announced 10,273 fans at the Forum.

``You can't get into a run-and-gun game against their forwards,'' Kings coach Larry Robinson said. ``Montreal, when they get the puck, they're as dangerous as any team in the league.''

The Kings extended their unbeaten streak to six games (3-0-3) behind goals by Blake, Vitali Yachmenev, Yanic Perreault and Eddie Olczyk, and a grinding defense that made it stand up.

The Canadiens were coming off a six-goal performance the night before against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, but managed just 28 shots against the Kings. Goalie Byron Dafoe, in his first start since Oct. 29, had relatively light night. Typically after Dafoe would make a save, a teammate would be there to clear the rebound.

``It wasn't always the defensemen playing the rebound,'' Dafoe said. ``It was our third guy a lot of times.

``We're not the most talented team. . . . Hitting is a big part of our game. Larry really stressed that tonight.''

Center Darcy Tucker scored the only Montreal goal, fooling Dafoe in front of the net by going to his backhand at 7 minutes, 53 seconds of the second period. It was his first NHL goal.

But the Canadiens' big guns were kept silent. Saku Koivu's seven-game point streak was snapped and Martin Rucinsky, who had a hat trick against the Ducks, was also pointless.

``We didn't stretch our shifts out, we got good changes and we did a good job blocking the middle of the ice,'' Robinson said. ``Everybody is executing. We're getting a much better effort from the whole team, and the team is committed to playing that way.''

Kings left wing Kevin Stevens, who's been struggling offensively, assisted on Perreault's goal and aided on Yachmenev's by screening goalie Jose Theodore.

Stevens brought the puck up the blue line and left a drop pass for Perreault, who fired from the slot to give the Kings a two-goal lead at 7 minutes, 54 seconds of the third period.

It was the team-leading seventh goal of the season for Perreault.

The Kings took a 2-1 lead 34 seconds into the final period when Yachmenev scored on a rebound in front. After Perreault won the face-off, defenseman Mattias Norstrom shot from the left point, with Stevens screening Theodore.

The goalie got a pad on the shot, but Yachmenev was there to tap it just inside the right post.

Olczyk's goal finished the scoring, coming unassisted at 14:47 of the third and extending his point streak to five games.

A stick-handling miscue by Theodore, in just his fourth NHL start, led to the Kings' first goal. After Theodore got only a piece of the puck behind the net trying to send it around the boards, Kings right wing Kai Nurminen dug it out of the right corner.

He tipped it to Blake, whose slap shot beat Theodore high on the glove side 31 seconds into the second period for a 1-0 Kings lead.

The Kings set the defensive tone early, holding the Canadiens without a shot the first 10 minutes of the game.

Kings notes: Thursday's game marked the deadline for new season-ticket holders to cancel and receive their full money back. Only seven people asked for a refund because they were dissatisfied with the team's performance, a Kings spokesman said. For the rest of the season, any season-ticket holder can get a refund on the remaining games. . . . Former public relations manager Rick Minch was hired by the New Jersey Devils as the team's Vice President of Communications and Broadcasting. He begins his new job Saturday. . . . Center Ian Laperriere returned after missing the previous three games because of a sprained right shoulder and wing Craig Johnson, who missed one game with a groin strain, also played. . . . Defenseman Sean O'Donnell, center Roman Vopat and right wing Brent Grieve were healthy scratches. They are expected to play tonight against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

Photo: (1--color) Kings' Matt Johnson tangles with Montreal's Donald Brashear in the first period.

(2) Montreal goaltender Jose Theodore and defenseman Patrice Brisebois keep Kings' Kevin Stevens clear of the net.

John McCoy / Daily News