[0] KINGS LEAVE TOO MANY CHANCES ON TABLE IN TIE KINGS 1, VANCOUVER 1.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

Ziggy Palffy was back and spent most of Monday buzzing the Vancouver Canucks net.

But except for Palffy's goal just minutes into the game, the Kings couldn't capitalize on his return from back problems as they tied the Canucks 1-1 in front of 15,666 at the Staples Center.

They blew a great scoring chance in the second period when they had a 5-on-3 advantage on the power play for 1:06 but could not score.

After that they let down, allowing Vancouver defenseman Jason Strudwick to score his first NHL goal with just 29 seconds remaining in the period.

Even though they outshot the Canucks 18-9 in the second period and spent most of the third in the Vancouver, it was another frustrating night.

Last Saturday, they blew a 2-1 lead in San Jose and were beaten 6-3 in the finale of a seven-game road trip.

The Kings had beaten the Canucks the night before in Vancouver but lost Palffy when Matt Cooke cross-checked him across the back of the neck in the second period. They also lost defenseman Garry Galley with a neck injury, but he returned and was on the ice for Palffy's goal.

The most frustrating part of the night for the Kings came midway through the second period when they had a 5-on-3 advantage.

Markus Naslund was the first to go for Vancouver when he interfered with Kings goaltender Stephane Fiset. Then, at 12:38, Murray Baron went off for closing his hand on the puck.

The Kings power play, which came in sixth in the league with an 18.2 conversion rate, never really got rolling. Defenseman Rob Blake had three shots, all from long range, but he also hit Palffy with a pass in front that probably was the Kings' best scoring chance.

Vancouver entered the game 24th in overall penalty killing but looked far better than that.

Things looked so good for the Kings when Palffy scored just 1:24 into the game.

He took a pass in the slot from Sean O'Donnell that ticked off the skate of Luc Robitaille and fired it past Vancouver goaltender Felix Potvin.

It was Palffy's 25th goal. If he stays healthy, he has a chance to reach 40 goals for the fourth time in his career.

Palffy had a chance for more with 12.4 seconds left in the second period when he took a pass from Rob Blake in front. But this time Palffy's shot struck Potvin's pad and stuck.

During that period the Kings took 18 shots at Potvin even though they had few good chances during the 5-on-3 advantage. The game remained tied 1-1 heading into the third.

At a time when they could have gone in the tank, the Canucks have mounted a mini-rally in an attempt to reach the postseason. They entered the game eight points behind San Jose for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

They came in 6-3-1 since the All-Star break, including a 2-1 victory Sunday against Phoenix. The Canucks say they aren't trading captain Mark Messier, who is 39 and has one season left on his contract at $6 million.

That could change if they cool off. But they got back another one-time big scorer Tuesday when Alexander Mogilny returned after missing eight games with a separated shoulder.

But for Strudwick, who began his career with the New York Islanders during the 1995-96 season, this was his night.

With 19:31 gone in the first, Todd Bertuzzi dug the puck out of the corner and lobbed it into the slot. Strudwick caught it, dropped it and fired. He beat Fiset over the right shoulder to tie the game.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo: (1 -- color) Luc Robitaille (20) tries to keep himself between the puck and Vancouver's Matt Cooke.

(2) Matt Cooke, left, fires a first-period shot at Stephane Fiset that the Kings goaltender slapped aside.

John Hayes/Associated Press