CANADIENS SEE WHOLE NEW KINGS : KINGS 4, CANADIENS 1.

Byline: Tim Trepany Daily News Staff Writer

The last time they played the Montreal Canadiens was just a blur to the Kings.

At least that's how the swift-skating Canadiens appeared to the Kings four weeks ago, prompting coach Larry Robinson to say his team looked like it was wearing ``cement boots'' in the 6-3 loss.

Things were different in the rematch Thursday. The only cement found was in the wall the Kings put up in their defensive zone. They limited the Canadiens' chances and emerged with a 4-1 victory before an announced 10,273 fans at the Forum.

The Kings extended their unbeaten streak to six games (3-0-3) behind goals by Rob Blake, Vitali Yachmenev, Yanic Perreault and Eddie Olczyk, and a grinding defense that made the lead stand up.

Kings goalie Byron Dafoe, in his first start since Oct. 29, made 27 saves in a relatively light night of action. Typically after Dafoe would make a save, a teammate would be there to clear the rebound.

Kings left wing Kevin Stevens, who's been struggling offensively, assisted on Perreault's goal and aided on Yachmenev's by screening goalie Jose Theodore.

Stevens brought the puck up the blue line and left a drop pass for Perreault, who fired from the slot to give the Kings a two-goal lead at 7 minutes, 54 seconds of the third period.

It was the team-leading seventh goal of the season for Perreault.

The Kings took a 2-1 lead 34 seconds into the final period when Yachmenev scored on a rebound in front. After Perreault won the face-off, defenseman Mattias Norstrom shot from the left point, with Stevens screening Theodore.

The goalie got a pad on the shot, but Yachmenev was there to tap it just inside the right post.

Olczyk's goal finished the scoring, coming unassisted at 14:47 of the third and extending his point streak to five games.

A stick-handling miscue by Theodore, in just his fourth NHL start, led to the Kings' first goal. After Theodore only got a piece of the puck behind the net trying to send it around the boards, Kings right wing Kai Nurminen dug it out of the right corner.

He tipped it to Blake, whose slap shot beat Theodore high on the glove side 31 seconds into the second period for a 1-0 Kings lead.

Olczyk just missed adding to the Kings' advantage when his shot from the left circle bounced off the right post two minutes later.

The Canadiens tied it when center Darcy Tucker faked out Dafoe by moving the puck from his forehand to his backhand, then shooting high into the net at 7:53 of the second.

Left wing Brian Savage's pass from the left corner went off Blake's skate and bounced to Chris Murray in the left circle. Murray sent the puck around the sliding Steven Finn to Tucker on front.

It was Tucker's first career goal.

An apparent goal by Canadiens center Scott Thornton at 16:59 of the second period was disallowed because referee Lance Roberts had whistled play dead when the net became dislodged.

The Kings' set the defensive tone early, holding the Canadiens without a shot the first 10 minutes of the game. Montreal center Saku Koivu had his point streak snapped at seven games.

Kings notes: Thursday's game marked the deadline for new season-ticket holders to cancel and receive their full money back. Only seven people asked for a refund because they were dissatisfied with the team's performance, a Kings spokesman said. For the rest of the season, any season-ticket holder can get a refund on the remaining games. . . . Former public relations manager Rick Minch was hired last week by the New Jersey Devils as the team's vice president of communications and broadcasting. . . . Center Ian Laperriere returned after missing the previous three games because of a sprained right shoulder and wing Craig Johnson, who missed one game with a groin strain, also played. . . . Defenseman Sean O'Donnell, center Roman Vopat and right wing Brent Grieve were healthy scratches. They are expected to play tonight against the Ducks.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

Photo: (1--color) Kings' Matt Johnson tangles with Montreal's Donald Brashear in the first period.

(2) Montreal goaltender Jose Theodore and defenseman Patrice Brisebois keep Kings' Kevin Stevens clear of the net.

John McCoy / Daily News