[0] LATE TALLIES TIE IT KINGS NET TWO IN 3RD PERIOD AGAINST DUCKS KINGS 2, DUCKS 2.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

The Kings' neighbors from down below, both in geography and the Western Conference standings, apparently got tired of being pushed around in this crosstown rivalry.

The Mighty Ducks played an aggressive game but couldn't make a two-goal lead stand up in the third period as the teams tied 2-2 Thursday night in front of 18,610 at Staples Center, the largest crowd to ever watch a hockey game in California.

If nothing else, the game brought some spark to a rivalry that never really has brought out much emotion. The record crowd watched a hard-fought game that had few moments of offensive brilliance until the third period.

After a sluggish first two periods, the scoring opened up in a hurry as the Kings broke through twice in less than five minutes to turn a 2-0 deficit into a 2-2 tie.

Ian Laperriere fed a pass to Brad Chartrand in the slot, and Chartrand beat Jean-Sebastien Giguere with a slap shot from about 15 feet out 2:45 into the third period. That goal was scored just 25 seconds after Matt Cullen had given the Mighty Ducks a 2-0 lead.

The Kings tied the game 7:06 into the period, when defenseman Aaron Miller intercepted a clearing attempt by Kevin Sawyer and found Craig Johnson behind the net.

Johnson sent a centering pass to Laperriere, who one-timed a pass to Bryan Smolinski, who one-timed a shot past Giguere for a goal on the night of his 30th birthday.

Kings goalkeeper Jamie Storr, who had allowed two or fewer goals in nine of his 10 appearances this season, played solid again, and for much of the game was matched by the Ducks' Giguere, a who has had the misfortune of playing behind a porous defense.

The game featured aggressive play from the start. The teams had two penalties each in the first six minutes and a fight between Laperriere and Denny Lambert took place in the final minute of the first period.

In between, the teams played a fairly even first period. The Kings killed three penalties and put eight shots on Giguere, but managed only a couple of scoring chances.

The Mighty Ducks did not put a shot on goal in the final six minutes of the period, but scored the only goal. Oleg Tverdovsky picked up a loose puck at center ice and passed to Matt Cullen, who went into the Kings' zone on an odd-man rush with Jeff Friesen.

Cullen fed a perfect pass across the front of the goal crease to Friesen, who one-timed the puck past Storr 9:25 into the period.

The Kings picked up the offense after Friesen's goal, but spent four of the last 10 minutes of the first period killing penalties. The Mighty Ducks recorded just four shots on goal in their three first-period power plays.

In the second period, the style of play turned from chippy to downright nasty. Players from both teams were sent flying into the boards throughout the period, and scuffles broke out twice, although no fighting penalties were called.

The rough play seemed to disrupt the Kings' offense, as they were held without a shot in two power-play attempts. Each team had just one shot through the first eight minutes of the period, and the Kings' best scoring chance was turned away when Jason Allison's wraparound attempt was poked away by Giguere.

Smolinski was called for roughing 12:24 into the period, and less than a minute into the Anaheim power play, Paul Kariya picked up a rebound and had an open net in front of him, but Kings defenseman Mattias Norstrom improvised in the crease and saved the puck with his chest.

Anaheim's aggressive play payed off less than three minutes into the third period, when Mike Leclerc leveled a Kings player behind the net, then fed a centering pass to Cullen, who one-timed the puck past Storr for a two- goal lead that lasted 25 seconds.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) The Kings' Eric Belanger, left, is checked by the Mighty Ducks' Kevin Sawyer at Staples Center.

(2) The Kings' Ken Belanger is sent to the ice by the Ducks' Jason York (33) on Thursday at Staples Center.

David Sprague/Staff Photographer