FIT FOR THE KINGS; STAPLES DEBUTS WITH TIE GAME : KINGS 2, BOSTON 2 STUMPEL'S GOAL SAVES THE NIGHT.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

New Kings coach Andy Murray knew the Staples Center would be packed for opening night. But all week he was a little worried whether his team would show up.

There was plenty of glitter, plenty of celebrities, plenty of people wondering Wednesday night if these were the same old Kings wearing a brand new crown.

Murray's fears came true, but it is not the score that will be remembered about the first game played in the Kings' new arena.

They admitted they didn't join the fun until the final two minutes of regulation when Jozef Stumpel scored to give the Kings a 2-2 tie against the Boston Bruins in front of a sellout crowd of 18,111, the largest hockey crowd in California history.

``There were plenty of nerves early in the game, but we settled ourselves down,'' said captain Rob Blake, who tied the game in the second period with a power-play goal. ``There was a lot of excitement tonight and we got caught up in it. But it was a great to come back and get a tie.''

Stumpel tied the game with 1:03 left, less than a minute after Boston's Sergei Samsonov beat Kings goalie Stephane Fiset to give the Bruins the lead.

It appeared Boston (0-5-4) would have its first victory of the season. But the Kings came back. Could it have been that old Staples Center magic?

``We've opened five buildings this year,'' said Bruins winger Kyle McLaren, whose team also played the first game in Colorado's Pepsi Center. ``They were going to be nervous. I think in the first period they were sitting on their heels, warming up. I felt they came out stronger from there.''

Murray, who guided the Kings to a 4-2-1 record on their seven-game trip to open the season, had to wait until the second period for his team to catch its breath.

And the downtown arena, the vision of Kings owners Ed Roski and Phillip Anschutz, was rocking through most of the third period when Fiset traded big stops with Boston's Rob Tallas.

The Kings had a half-dozen scoring opportunities late in third period and finished outshooting the Bruins 40-30. The best chance came Ian Laperierre nearly trickled a shot past Tallas with seven minutes left, but at the last second Tallas got a glove on the puck.

Moments later, Samsonov fired on a diving Fiset and hit the post.

It was more of the same in overtime, when both teams had several scoring opportunities.

``The thing I will remember about this game was all the chances we had,'' Stumpel said.

In the past few days, Murray spoke openly about concerns that opening night at the new arena could be a little overwhelming for his players. The team had just two practices there and spent more time wooing season-ticket holders at a Tuesday-afternoon luncheon than actually working out.

For a team that has missed the playoffs five of the last six years, the distractions were significant even if there was plenty of optimism during the first trip.

Just 4:12 into the game, Bruins right wing Anson Carter took a pass from Jonathan Girard in front and beat Fiset.

But unlike Saturday's 5-4 loss to Edmonton, the Kings regrouped.

They regained their composure midway through the period when they killed off a five-on-three disadvantage for 33 seconds with Chris Johnson (hooking) and Garry Galley (boarding) in the penalty box.

``Any time you play in a new building you want to do more,'' Donald Audette said. ``A lot of guys were a little nervous. We kind of told each other to relax and play our game. You want to win it, you want to win every game, but to come back in the third period, we'll take that point.''

TEN TO REMEMBER

Ten firsts at the new Staples Center (in chronological order):

First sellout: A capacity crowd of 18,118 was announced, but there were many empty seats on the lower two levels. Dedicated fans. The Kings had announced capacity was 18,500 but downgraded that number.

First member of the Kings organization introduced in pregame ceremonies: Assistant equipment manager Rick Garcia, a key cog in the machine.

First person to sing national anthem: Broadway star Davis Gaines, whose spirited version might turn out to be the ``best'' in the life of the arena.

First shot: Luc Robitaille, which seems appropriate. Time: 1:16.

First goal: Anson Carter, which seems inappropriate. He took a pass from Jonathan Girard and flipped the puck past Kings goalie Stephane Fiset from a few feet in front of the net. Time: 4:12 of the first period.

First lament: Said Kings' center Jozef Stumpel, ``The thing I'll remember about this game was all the chances we had.'' Time: 15 minutes after the game. First Kings penalty: Craig Johnson, two minutes, holding. Johnson is one the least-penalized players on the team. He had 32 penalty minutes all last season and six in eight games this year. Time: 10:00, first period.

First disgruntled fan: A frustrated guy sitting below the press box as the Kings squandered a power-play opportunity. ``Somebody shoot the &%! puck.'' Also the first expletive. Time: 15:50, first period.

First Kings goal: Rob Blake, which also seems fitting. The Kings' captain blasted a slap shot from just inside the blue line past Boston goalie Robbie Tallas on a power play. Time: 10:32 of the second period.

First tie: A boring way to start an era.

CAPTION(S):

3 photos, box

PHOTO (1 -- color) The Kings and Boston Bruins line up for the national anthem, above, on the first night of hockey at the Staples Center.

Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press

(2 -- color) Members of the Kings face the crowd during the ceremony.

(3) Boston's P.J. Axelsson takes the puck away from the Kings' Jozef Stumpel during the first period at Staples Center.

Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer

BOX: Ten to remember (see text)