[0] KINGS SURPRISE WINGS (AND EVERYBODY ELSE) : KINGS 4, DETROIT 2.

Byline: Roger Phillips

Maybe the Kings should play the Detroit Red Wings every day.

They consistently lose to lesser teams in the NHL, but give them a meeting with the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions and the Kings suddenly come alive.

Two weeks ago, they beat the Red Wings in overtime in Detroit.

Tuesday night, the Kings came alive again, ending a four-game losing streak with a crucial 4-2 victory before a crowd of 13,741 at the Forum.

``Now we have to build on this,'' coach Larry Robinson said. ``Everybody is counting us out. There's nothing better than to answer those people. The season ends on the 18th of April. We're going to prove to everybody that we're going to fight until the end.''

And if that happens, a gritty center may lead them.

The key player for the Kings on Tuesday was Ian Laperriere. He showed discipline by taking a punch to the face from Darren McCarty to draw a penalty. He showed fighting ability in a brawl with Aaron Ward. And he showed scoring touch in the form of the game-winning goal with 7:36 left in the second period, only his second goal of the season. He also assisted on Doug Bodger's first-period goal.

``We've got to win right now,'' Laperriere said. ``We've got to play desperate like we did tonight. We've got to play like that all the time if we want to get back in the playoff race.''

By winning Tuesday, the Kings (24-36-5) may have taken their first, tentative step toward at least making a playoff bid in the final five-plus weeks of the season. They didn't gain any ground on San Jose, but didn't lose any, either, remaining seven points out of a playoff berth with 17 games left.

On this night, the Kings got timely goals, key saves from Stephane Fiset, and an outstanding effort from their penalty killers, especially during the first 12 minutes of the third period, when they were clinging to a one-goal lead and shorthanded for eight of those minutes. The Kings also got some breaks; three Red Wings shots hit posts or the crossbar.

The Kings were sharp from the start, getting first-period goals from defensemen Rob Blake and Doug Bodger, who has scored in the past two games after not scoring all season. Igor Larionov brought Detroit even with a goal in the waning seconds of the first period and another with the Wings (32-27-6) shorthanded early in the second.

But the Kings didn't wilt, and took the lead when Laperriere scored from the slot off a centering pass from Luc Robitaille that reached him after deflecting off the stick of teammate Glen Murray.

``I just tried to put the puck on net,'' Laperriere said. ``I was pretty happy for a guy who hasn't scored in three months.''

Robinson said, ``Lappy epitomizes what everybody on the team should emulate. I'm not going to say he's limited in talent, but he's not the fastest skater on the team. But he has the biggest heart.''

After Laperriere's goal, the Kings simply held on. In the third period, they were outshot 13-3 and survived four minor penalties, including a double-minor to Garry Galley for high sticking.

During Galley's four minutes, the Wings didn't manage a shot on goal. And in the closing seconds, with goalie Chris Osgood pulled for an extra skater, Russ Courtnall scored into the empty net, sealing one of the Kings' more inspiring victories this season.

``It's nice to see the guys are getting something for their hard work,'' Robinson said.