ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? THESE KINGS AREN'T : REACTION TO PLAYOFF PRESSURE A GREAT UNKNOWN.

Byline: KEVIN MODESTI

Only three players at the Forum on Saturday were Kings the last time the team went to the playoffs - in the Stanley Cup-finals season of 1993. Of those, only one, Rob Blake, wore a uniform Saturday.

Luc Robitaille was in street clothes because of an injury. Jari Kurri, finishing his career with the Colorado Avalanche, was scratched from the roster although he's healthy.

Of the Kings who actually took part in the 4-3 victory over the Avalanche, those with NHL playoff experience brought it with them from other teams, and nearly as many are getting ready for a crash course in high-pressure hockey.

``Until you get in the games, it's hard to know what it's like,'' said Blake, who had played only four regular-season games in the league before his first playoffs.

When the season began in October, lack of playoff experience wasn't something the Kings worried about. Coming off a sixth-place finish in the Pacific Division, they weren't supposed to sniff the playoffs.

But they clinched a playoff spot last week. Now, with four games left in the season, everything they do is meant to get them ready.

``This time of year,'' Kurri said between periods after taking a center-ice bow in his last L.A. visit before retirement, ``you've got to find your best game.''

Do they know where to find it? That may be the biggest question facing the Kings these days.

Only one King has a Stanley Cup ring: goalie Stephane Fiset (who earned it with the Avalanche). Only three others have been to the finals: Blake, Robitaille and Garry Galley (who did it with the Boston Bruins).

A dozen Kings on Saturday's roster have never gone to the NHL playoffs, including Yanic Perreault, who scored the first two Kings goals.

``You look around and we have quite a few guys who don't have experience in the playoffs,'' Blake said in the dressing room. ``I think that's one reason we haven't been playing as well lately. Guys are excited about getting into the playoffs.''

Having set a season goal of defying prognosticators and making the playoffs, the Kings might be guilty of resting on their laurels in April, which has been their worst month, with two wins and four defeats. Fifth in the Western Conference for more than two months now, they've had little to play for, since eight teams go on.

Although the Kings are five games over .500 - one better than they were before the '93 playoff run - nobody expects the Kings to contend for a Stanley Cup this year. To an extent, their fans should be happy the team will have its rebuilding year and acquire playoff experience that should help them in the future.

``I think it's definitely going to be a learning year,'' Blake said.

Even a first-round series victory - it's all but certain the Kings will play the St. Louis Blues - will be hard to get if they don't improve on their recent efforts.

Thursday, the Kings lost 4-0 to the Edmonton Oilers in what coach Larry Robinson called ``probably one of the most embarrassing games I've ever seen.'' Saturday's victory - over the division leaders - was encouraging but deceptive.

The Avalanche had a 43-19 advantage in shots on goal and hit the posts several times. Three Kings goals came in short-handed situations. How often will that happen? Three short-handed goals is a club record.

The game showed that the Kings still have work to do before the playoffs.

Their veterans can tell them.

They have to cut out needless penalties.

``You take those penalties in the regular season. Somebody hits you and you hit them back,'' Blake said. ``But in the playoffs you have to learn to hold it in. You can't afford it.''

They have to assert their size advantage - the Kings are the league's biggest team - in more straightforward ways by attacking the goal and laying bodies on their opponents.

``We can't be as passive as we've been,'' said Sean O'Donnell. ``We're not that good.'' They have to start as fast in every game as they did Saturday, when they took a 2-0 lead.

Because this Kings roster will be playing together in the postseason for the first time, the veterans will have to take charge.

``I know when I was a young kid, playing in Montreal, it was great to be around the older guys,'' said Russ Courtnall, who got his first playoff experience with the Canadiens. ``You're excited, and the older guys can settle you down a little bit.''

Or do they need a teammate who will fire them up?

``In this locker room, anybody can say anything they want. We have guys who have been around the block, and they can add insight. But we don't need a guy in the room who can do that,'' Courtnall said, meaning someone to shake younger Kings by the lapels. ``We have a proud team that likes to come to work.''

But now they go to work at a new job - the playoffs. It's going to be a learning experience.