DOMINANT KINGS `RELENTLESS' TEAM DOMINATES CHICAGO ON OFFENSE, DEFENSE KINGS 2, CHICAGO 1.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

The Kings opened this season with the goal of making it the ``Best Ever'' in franchise history, but signs bearing that slogan vanished from the dressing room after the team's dreadful start last fall.

Coach Andy Murray found a small piece of perfection Monday night in an otherwise up-and-down season, as the Kings dominated Chicago but needed a goal by defenseman Philippe Boucher with 4:59 remaining to beat the Blackhawks 2-1 before 16,956 at Staples Center.

``We've had some great efforts over the past three years, but I don't know if we've had a better one than tonight,'' Murray said. ``I thought from the drop of the puck in the first minute we were solid. I thought we were relentless.

``We just said that whatever it takes, we're going to find a way to win, even if we have to get 40 or 50 shots on goal. To beat a team like Chicago, you have to pay a price, and that's what our team did.''

The Kings played an outstanding defensive game, outshot the Blackhawks 32-11 and moved into sole possession of fifth place in the Western Conference, although St. Louis, tied for sixth place, has played two fewer games. Chicago's 11 shots on goal were a season low for a Kings opponent and nearly tied the team record of 10 shots allowed.

But until Boucher's slap shot from the blue line deflected off the pads of Chicago goalkeeper Jocelyn Thibault and into the top of the net, it seemed as though the Kings would be in for another night of frustration, similar to their 1-1 tie against Ottawa last week.

Adam Deadmarsh started the play against the boards, when he kept control of the puck and worked it over to Boucher. With almost all of the activity remaining near the boards, Boucher found himself standing alone and fired the slap shot on Thibault.

``That's as dominant as we've been in a long time,'' Boucher said. ``The puck wasn't going in for a while, but we just had to keep playing hard.''

The Kings' top scoring line of Deadmarsh, Jason Allison and Ziggy Palffy was on the ice for both Kings goals, as Palffy scored with 19 seconds remaining in the first period, but for much of the game, Murray kept that trio separated.

Looking to boost his second scoring line, Murray put Jaroslav Bednar, who was recalled earlier Monday to take the place of injured forward Kelly Buchberger, on the first line with Allison and Deadmarsh. Palffy moved to the second line with the struggling Steve Heinze and Bryan Smolinski.

Late in the first period, Allison, Deadmarsh and Palffy were on the ice for only their second shift together. Eric Daze controlled the puck deep in his own zone but lost control. Allison worked the puck into the slot and onto the stick of Palffy, who spun around and fired a shot through traffic that beat an unsuspecting Thibault.

``Their defense, I thought, was real good,'' Chicago coach Brian Sutter said. ``They battled and they didn't fool around with the puck. When they didn't have a play, they used the glass and kept it going ahead and they checked hard. They did a good job in the neutral zone.''

The Kings outshot the Blackhawks 12-2 in the first period and maintained that dominance for much of the next 20 minutes but allowed Chicago to tie the game.

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Jason Allison (41) of the Kings pins Chicago's Peter White near the boards in the first period Monday night.

(2) Steve Heinze (57) of the Kings and Phil Housley of the Chicago Blackhawks get tied up trying to chase down a puck Monday night at Staples Center.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer