A LUC OF RELIEF A `REALLY NERVOUS' ROBITAILLE BEATS KINGS DETROIT 3, KINGS 2.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

DETROIT - Steven and Jesse Robitaille had just blown in from the Coast when they found their father mobbed by reporters in the postgame dressing room.

It all seemed so familiar. Luc Robitaille had just scored the winning goal in a 3-2 victory Saturday at Joe Louis Arena with one of his classic tip-ins in front of the net.

But when he saw his sons, Luc was reminded how everything has changed. He now plays with the Detroit Red Wings. His goal beat the Kings, with whom he starred for so long. The kids no longer are playing in his back yard. They live 2,500 miles away.

``How about a hug?'' Luc yelled to Steven, whom he hasn't seen in five weeks. ``How about my allowance?'' his son chirped back.

The psychological price of free agency had just been paid. For Robitaille, who left the Kings for a two-year, $9 million contract last July, it was an emotional night even before his children surprised him with a visit from L.A. For the Kings, it was a loss to an old friend they really wanted to beat.

``We go back a long way and we'll always be good friends,'' said Glen Murray, Robitaille's longtime roommate with the Kings. ``But you really don't want to see him standing in front with the game on the line. Some things never change.''

For Robitaille, it was his sixth goal this season and the 596th of his career. A dozen replays never actually showed him touching the puck after Brendan Shanahan fired a slap shot from the point with 4:19 left in the second period.

But when the puck sailed past Felix Potvin, Robitaille's night was made. His split from the Kings not always has been pleasant. But a goal is a goal and a win is a win.

``I was really nervous tonight,'' he said. ``The whole thing was a little overwhelming at times. The Kings were over there in the other room, all those guys I knew so well. And I was playing for a team that the Kings beat last year in the playoffs. Wow.''

Detroit was out to prove this is a new season. They scored just 41 seconds into the game when Sergei Fedorov rebounded a Shanahan shot past Kings goaltender Felix Potvin.

Less than four minutes later, Brett Hull made it 2-0 when he took a pass from captain Steve Yzerman and beat Potvin with a 10-foot wrist shot.

``That is what they always do,'' Jozef Stumpel said. ``Get a quick lead and try to take you out of the game.''

But Murray scored just 20 seconds later, his fifth this season. Moments earlier, Craig Johnson failed to convert on an open chance. Johnson, playing on a line with Murray and Bryan Smolinski, redeemed the miss with his first goal at the 13:33 mark of the opening period.

``The way the game was going, it didn't look like anything I did was going to be the game-winner,'' Robitaille said.

Although Robitaille scored the winning goal, the difference between Saturday's game and last year's first-round playoff series was Red Wings goaltender Dominik Hasek. Like Robitaille, Hasek joined Detroit during the offseason.

The former league MVP in Buffalo faltered a little Saturday night, giving back an early two-goal lead late in the first period. But Hasek, who stopped 28 of 30 shots, was brilliant down the stretch. With 1:30 remaining, he came up big with Smolinski alone in front.

``You might say Hasek was the reason they won the game,'' Kings coach Andy Murray said. ``But I look at it as we could have played better. We got back in the game, but it wasn't enough. Even on the winning goal, we should never have let Shanahan take that good a shot. We just let Luc do what he does.''

Robitaille, who last season had 16 power-play goals and 37 overall, was on the ice after Kings defenseman Phillippe Boucher was whistled for a penalty. Shanahan and Detroit defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom worked the puck along the perimeter. The Kings collapsed on Lidstrom, who slid the puck to Shanahan, the NHL leader with 14 points.

``After Shanny shot the puck he went into a dance, pumping his arms,'' Robitaille said. ``I got a little embarrassed. I thought, `Maybe I should have just let it go.''

A LUC INSIDE

Detroit left wing Luc Robitaille faced his old team Saturday for the first time this season:

vs. KINGS SEASON

Goals 1 5

PP Goals 1 1

Assists 0 0

Points 1 5

Shots 5 20

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1) no caption (Luc Robitaille)

(2) Detroit's Luc Robitaille (20) tries to pass to Brett Hull as the Kings' Jere Karalahti defends.

Paul Warner/Associated Press

Box: A LUC INSIDE (see text)