[0] KINGS MAKE FIRST-PERIOD RALLY STAND : KINGS 4 FLORIDA 3.

Byline: Roger Phillips

So many times this season, the Kings have fallen behind early and spent the rest of the night vainly attempting to battle back.

Saturday night, they altered their modus operandi.

In a span of 7 minutes, 17 seconds in the first period, the Kings fired four goals past two Florida Panthers goalies. Then they simply held on for the final two periods, coming close to allowing a crucial victory to slip away.

They survived in the end to win 4-3 before a Forum crowd of 14,551 attending the conclusion of a season-long seven game home stand.

``We stopped playing the way we were supposed to be playing, getting the puck deep (in the opposing zone),'' coach Larry Robinson said. ``All of a sudden, we get a 4-0 lead and guys are trying to make plays.''

Added Donald Audette, who scored the Kings' first goal: ``We kind of got satisfied with the lead. When you do that, you go out without the same desire, and that can cost you.''

The 4-3 home stand wasn't easy, but if the Kings are going to squeak into the playoffs, the hard part comes now. Thirteen games remain, nine on the road, beginning this evening in Phoenix against the Coyotes. Saturday's victory left the Kings (27-37-5) three points behind Calgary and Edmonton, which share the final playoff berth in the Western Conference.

Florida (25-26-17) has problems of its own. The Panthers, who were without star right wing Pavel Bure (knee injury), are four points out of an Eastern Conference playoff berth with 14 games remaining.

Even though the Kings appeared headed for a blowout after their 4-0 first period, the hero of the opening 20 minutes was goalie Stephane Fiset.

Ninety seconds into the game, Fiset sprawled to rob Radek Dvorak on a breakaway. Two minutes later, with the Kings on a power play, Fiset stopped another breakaway, this one by Bill Lindsay.

Without Fiset's effort, the Kings might have found themselves in an early 2-0 hole. Fiset is expected to be the backup to Jamie Storr tonight in Phoenix.

``If (Fiset) doesn't come up big for us early,'' defenseman Doug Bodger said, ``it's a different story.''

Instead, when Audette scored off a Luc Robitaille rebound on a power play at 6:04, the Kings had a 1-0 lead; two minutes later, Rob Blake scored on another power play, his 10th goal this season and his sixth in the last 11 games.

It took just two more minutes, with Blake screening goalie Kirk McLean, for Mattias Norstrom to score his second goal of the season. And less than three minutes after that - with Sean Burke now in the Panthers' goal - Russ Courtnall scored shorthanded for a 4-0 lead.

But the Panthers fought back in the second period, cutting their deficit in half and outshooting the Kings 15-3. Their first goal was scored by Viktor Kozlov on a power play at 8:12. Less than a minute later, on an outnumbered rush, rookie Mark Parrish scored his 18th of the season off a Lindsay pass to make it 4-2.

Then, with less than four minutes left in the game and two Kings in the penalty box, Ray Whitney drew the Panthers within one. The Kings survived another 1:51 shorthanded to win for the fourth time in their last five games.

``This one is over, fine, shut it off,'' said a relieved Robinson. ``What it is, it's a win.''

At this point, the Kings will take them any way they can get them.

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Photo

Photo: Florida's Mark Parrish, right, almost knocks in a goal as the Kings' Doug Bodger and goalie Stephane Fiset defend in the Kings' 4-3 win.

John Hayes/Associated Press