BAD KINGS, GOOD VICTORY; STORR STRONGEST IN THIRD PERIOD.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

This is not how the Kings built the best record in hockey, not why first-year coach Andy Murray is the early front-runner for coach of the year. This is not what will draw fans, intoxicated by glitz and underappreciative of blue-collar effort, to games.

The Kings did everything possible to lose. They sat on an early lead, were nearly defenseless as Chicago fired 23 shots at goalie Jamie Storr in the third period.

Yet they did the unexpected, at least for the Kings teams past. They held on for a 3-2 win in front of a season-low 12,980 fans Tuesday at Staples Center.

It's the Kings' 10th straight win against the Blackhawks dating back to February 1997, but joy wasn't the prevailing mood afterward.

``(Chicago) lost a game they deserved to win,'' said Kings coach Andy Murray, who's team was outshot 38-21. ``We weren't working, we didn't get to loose pucks. We were skating stiff. We're not a team that can survive if we don't have effort.''

Certainly, this isn't how the Kings have played during an 11-game streak in which they've lost just once and tied two games. But this clearly isn't the same `ol Kings organization that usually loses these games in dreadful fashion.

Indeed, these are the new Kings. Complaining about their effort, admitting they were outplayed. Talking about a win, mainly because Storr was brilliant, particularly in the third period. He finished with 36 saves, 21 of which came in the final 20 minutes.

``We gave them every chance to win,'' Kings center Bryan Smolinski said. ``They came hard. They were working hard because we weren't working hard.''

The Kings survived because Storr, now 3-0-1 since the injury to Stephane Fiset, wouldn't cave when the rest of the Kings were sliding backward. They had a 3-0 lead midway through the second period, but had trouble sustaining offense.

The Blackhawks broke the shutout bid when Eric Daze flicked a rebound through Storr's legs with 9:24 to play. They put a big scare into the Kings when Tony Amonte scored with 58.8 seconds left to make it 3-2.

``You don't feel like (you're under attack),'' Storr said of the third period. ``That's what happens when a team is down. They're going to battle and knock you back on your heels.''

But Storr, for the umpteenth time, bailed out the Kings with a pad save off Amonte with eight seconds left to secure the win.

``When you put yourself behind the eight-ball, it's a long way to come back,'' Blackhawks coach Lorne Molleken said. ``They're a good team and they work hard.''

Not that the Kings thought they deserved a 3-0 lead.

The Kings went ahead 1-0 when Vladimir Tsyplakov chipped the rebound of Rob Blake's shot from the point past Chicago goalie Steve Passmore at the 7:05 mark of the first period.

Los Angeles made it 2-0 when Smolinski redirected Glen Murray's pass from the left wing boards past Passmore, and went up 3-0 midway through the second period on Donald Audette's eighth goal of the season.

It was also hard to tell that, at least statistically, the Kings are the NHL's best team. They lead the league with 28 points, and after 20 games are 12-4-4.

``I don't want to tear my team apart,'' Murray said. ``We had a weak game. This hockey club has battled to get where we are over this twenty-game segment. We are deserving of our position right now in the standings.''

But, as the Kings say, not deserving of a one-goal win against the Blackhawks.