[0] VOPAT TURNS UP VOLUME : KINGS CENTER, KEY IN GRETZKY DEAL, FINALLY SCORES IN WIN KINGS 3 DUCKS 1.

Byline: Tim Trepany Daily News Staff Writer

One week shy of the one-year anniversary of their trade of Wayne Gretzky, the player deemed by the Kings the centerpiece of the landmark deal finally made a tangible contribution.

Roman Vopat, the strapping 20-year-old center considered the most important of the three players obtained from the St. Louis Blues for Gretzky, scored the winning goal as the Kings beat the rival Mighty Ducks 3-1 Thursday at the Forum.

Right wing Jeff Shevalier scored the Kings' other two goals, his first multiple-goal game in the NHL, and Eddie Olczyk had two assists.

The victory broke a seven-game winless streak for the Kings, who also climbed out of a tie with Toronto for last place in the Western Conference. The Ducks fell four points behind Chicago and Vancouver for the West's eighth and final playoff berth.

Vopat broke a 1-1 tie when his slap shot from the top of the left circle got past usually stingy Guy Hebert at 19 minutes, 39 seconds of the second period with the help of Ducks defenseman Darren Van Impe, who inadvertently screened the goalie.

It was the first goal Vopat has scored for the Kings since the Feb. 27, 1996 trade.

``That trade was a long time ago,'' Vopat said. ``I don't worry about it right now. I just try to make the lineup every night. My goal every game is to work for 60 minutes every night.''

The victory was especially pleasing for coach Larry Robinson because some of the Kings' youngest players were the biggest contributors.

They were the third and fourth career goals for the 23-year-old Shevalier. Aki Berg, the team's 19-year-old defenseman, and defensive partner Sean O'Donnell were matched against the Paul Kariya-Teemu Selanne line and limited the high-scoring combination to one assist.

``(Berg) played them tough,'' Robinson said. ``He's one of our better skaters.''

The rivalry between the teams boiled over in a melee during the third period that resulted in 10 major penalties being called and three ejections.

It started when Kings enforcer Matt Johnson earned a roughing penalty checking Ducks defenseman Daniel Trebil along the boards near the Kings blue line. Wing Peter LeBoutillier came to Trebil's aid, causing all the skaters on the ice to join in. Brad Smyth of the Kings squared off against Trebil and Johnson sent LeBoutillier to the ice with a crushing right hand.

Johnson, LeBoutillier and Ducks enforcer Warren Rychel were ejected as 82 minutes in penalties were handed out.

It was the third game misconduct of the season for Johnson, but only the second one where he was the aggressor, meaning he will not receive an automatic one-game suspension. The incident, however, will likely be reviewed by the league for possible supplementary discipline.

Shevalier's first goal came just 52 seconds after left wing Garry Valk had given the Ducks a 1-0 lead in the second period.

He came behind the net and scored on a wraparound that went off the skate of Ducks forward Jari Kurri and through Hebert's legs.

He scored his second goal at 13:10 of the third when he chased down a rebound in the slot and sent a shot that trickled through Hebert's legs.

``If I keep producing, hopefully I'll be here awhile,'' Shevalier said.

Kings defenseman Rob Blake missed the game because of tendinitis in his left knee, the same knee he had reconstructive surgery on last year.

Kings left wing Kevin Stevens left the game after his first shift of the second period with a bruised left ankle, the result of a slap shot hitting it in the first period. X-rays taken at Centinela Hospital were negative for a fracture.

Kings defenseman Steven Finn was also forced out of the game, near the end of the second period, with a bruised left foot.

Kings notes: Forward Yanic Perreault missed his eighth straight game because of a bruised rib. . . . Forwards Craig JohTnson (abdominal surgery) and Dimitri Khristich (eye surgery) did not play, but are expected to return Saturday against Vancouver. . . . Forward Nathan LaFayette was the Kings' only healthy scratch. . . . Defenseman Jan Vopat returned after missing two games because of a sprained ankle and Vladimir Tsyplakov played for the first time after missing three games with a groin strain.

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Photo: (Color) A check by the Kings' Ian Laperriere keeps the Ducks' Bobby Dollas from reaching the puck.

Michael Owen Baker / Daily News