[0] SURPRISE: KINGS WIN 2 STRAIGHT : KINGS 3 VANCOUVER 0.

Byline: Roger Phillips

Break out the smelling salts.

The chronically struggling Kings suddenly are rolling, at least by the humble standards they set through the season's first two months.

With goals from Luc Robitaille (as usual), Craig Johnson (a rarity) and Yanic Perreault (a late empty-netter), strong goaltending from Stephane Fiset, and a gutty five-minute stretch of penalty killing in the third period, the Kings defeated the Vancouver Canucks 3-0 Saturday night before a crowd of 13,844 at the Forum.

``We've got no choice,'' said Fiset, who made 25 saves. ``If we want to make the playoffs, we have to go on a streak.''

The victory was the second in a row for the Kings (8-17-3), the first time they've accomplished that modest feat this season. They'll go for three straight at 5:05 p.m. today when they face the Mighty Ducks at the Pond.

The Kings regained the services of defenseman Rob Blake, who had missed 15 games with a broken foot, a nightmarish stretch during which the team posted a 3-12 record. But in the third period, with Doug Bodger serving a holding penalty, Blake received a major slashing penalty and a game misconduct for hacking at the right elbow of Vancouver's Harry York.

Thus, the Kings were forced to play two men short for 90 seconds, then one man short for another 3:30. Somehow, they survived, thanks in part to key blocked shots by Sean O'Donnell and Mattias Norstrom, and because of Fiset's quick glove, which he used to cover a loose puck in the crease after Vancouver's Bill Muckalt fanned on a shot at a wide-open net.

``We didn't give up a lot of scoring chances,'' Fiset said. ``When you do that, you're going to win a lot of games.''

Blake watched in the dressing room, saying afterward he was confident his penalty would not cost his team.

``I knew Fiset was on his game and they weren't going to beat him,'' Blake said. ``They didn't have a lot of chances before that and I knew it wouldn't change. We're playing for each other. I take a stupid penalty and (O'Donnell) lies down and blocks a shot.''

Until being booted from the game, Blake played regularly at even strength and on special teams. With Blake back, it was the first game this season in which he and No. 1 center Jozef Stumpel both played and were healthy.

``You really know your roles when you're all in the lineup,'' Blake said. ``For the first time, we can define our roles and play as a team.''

The Canucks (10-14-4), on the other hand, were missing key wingers Alexander

Mogilny (sprained knee) and Todd Bertuzzi (fractured leg).

Despite an 18-3 advantage in shots in the first period, the Kings built only a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes. Robitaille scored the goal, recording his team-high 14th this season three minutes into the game. Robitaille scored just 16 goals last season.

The Kings had numerous chances to pad the lead - including four consecutive minutes on the power play midway through the period - but were unable to do so. An apparent power-play goal by Steve Duchesne was waved off at 13:58 by referee Don Koharski because Vladimir Tsyplakov's skate was in the crease.

The Kings easily could have lost another goal late in the second period, when Robitaille's pass to Johnson deflected off his left skate, between goalie Garth Snow's pads and into the net. But Johnson's third goal - a rare power-play goal for the Kings - was allowed to stand because Koharski ruled Johnson had not intentionally directed the puck into the net with the ``distinct kicking motion'' the NHL rule book does not allow.