[0] KINGS HOLD ON TO TIE CANUCKS TEAM UNABLE TO CAPITALIZE ON CHANCES KINGS 1, VANCOUVER 1.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

VANCOUVER - The Kings are in the playoffs, but they also are spoilers for those who aren't.

Even though the Vancouver Canucks are on the outside looking in, Wednesday night's 1-1 tie also was critical for the Kings.

Although they would earn an easier playoff opponent by dropping from fifth to sixth in the Western Conference, there is no turning back now.

They've lost Ziggy Palffy, Nelson Emerson and now Bryan Smolinski to injuries and can't stand to lose any momentum.

But after a sluggish loss Monday night in Phoenix, the patchwork Kings held their ground.

The tie enabled them to stay a point ahead of the Coyotes (90-89), who defeated Nashville earlier Wednesday. Both teams have two games remaining.

But the Kings will remember how they might have gotten more against the Canucks. They failed on a great chance late in the second period when they had a five-on-three advanage for 1:15 after Jozef Stumpel was pulled down on a breakaway by Mattias Ohlund.

Brendan Morrison also was called for a double-minor penalty, but the Kings couldn't take advantage.

But they were not without a litle luck.

With 1:55 remaining in regulation, Vancouver's Denis Pederson hit the right post that would have given the Canucks the victory.

The Kings had offset an early surge by the Canucks, who already knew the Mighty Ducks had lost in Chicago. Both teams have 80 points, three behind San Jose for the eighth and final playoff spot with two games remaining.

Vancouver also had the added emotional advantage of returning strongman Donald Brashear, who made his first appearance since he was struck down by Boston's Marty McSorley in February.

The Kings withstood all that and the raucous sellout crowd. They just had trouble scoring.

Without Smolinski, who suffered a season-ending knee injury Monday in Phoenix, the Kings went with a second line of enforcer Ian Laperriere at center, Luc Robitaille at left wing and Glen Murray at right wing. The unit produced just three shots in the first two periods.

If not for goaltender Stephane Fiset, who matched his spectacular performance from Saturday's clincher against the Mighty Ducks, there is no telling where this game would have gone.

Vancouver outshot the Kings 34-18 in the first 40 minutes and took a 1-0 lead a minute into the second period on a goal by Mark Messier.

But Fiset, who will be the Kings starting goaltender in the upcoming playoffs, kept it close. He stopped many difficult shots, including a point-blank blast by Peter Schaefer with nine minutes remaining in the third period. With 7:25 remaining, he turned away Todd Bertuzzi, who double clutched on an open net.

Kings coach Andy Murray, who met individually with players during Tuesday's offday, said there is great confidence in Fiset.

`'Everybody was talking about the effort he has been giving us,'' Murray said. `'This time of year you need a hot goaltender. Fiset has been great for us.''

Fiset used to play for No. 3 Colorado and probably wouldn't mind facing them in the first round. But that would mean dropping below No.6 Phoenix.