KINGS GET DEFENSIVE IN VICTORY GARON STEPS UP AND EARNS HIS FOURTH SHUTOUT OF THE SEASON KINGS 1, VANCOUVER 0.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

Losing a crucial game is one thing, but to get embarrassed the way the Kings did in Vancouver last week is unacceptable, whether its a playoff race of the middle of November.

The Kings got their chance at revenge, and an opportunity to pick up two huge points in the standings Monday night when the Canucks came to town, but from the start it was clear it would not be easy.

Needing a victory simply to maintain their position in the tight Western Conference playoff race, the Kings had just enough to get by the Canucks in a 1-0 victory before 17,196 at Staples Center.

Kings' goalie Mathieu Garon, coming off a shutout of Dallas two nights earlier, shut down the Canucks and earned his fourth shutout of the season.

Pavol Demitra, sidelined 14 of the previous 15 games with vision and concussion problems, returned Monday and scored a power-play goal 13 minutes into the second period to break a scoreless tie.

It wasn't difficult for the Kings to top their previous effort against the Canucks, a 7-4 loss last week that served as a rough start to the Kings' winless three-game trip through Canada last week.

The Kings, who started the night in 10th place, did not get much help, as sixth-place Colorado, eighth-place Edmonton and ninth-place San Jose all won Monday and picked up two points in the standings. The Kings victory dropped the Canucks into eighth place and just two points ahead of the Kings with two weeks remaining in the regular season.

Neither team seemed willing to blink in an evenly played start that carried over into the second period.

The first period was a rarity, a scoreless but entertaining period in which the Kings killed two penalties in the first 10 minutes and had the best scoring chance in the process, on a breakaway by Sean Avery.

Demitra's goal was the highlight of the second period, a period that the Kings dominated.

The Kings had four power plays in the period and at one point had outshot the Canucks 17-3. They took the lead with Markus Naslund in the penalty box for a delay-of-game penalty.

Demitra, cleared to play by doctors just hours earlier, took a pass from Joe Corvo and ripped a slap shot from approximately 10 feet inside the blueline, with teammate Mark Parrish providing traffic in front.

Vancouver goalie Alexander Auld made the save, but the puck trickled behind him and across the goal line to give the Kings a 1-0 lead with 6:47 remaining in the second period.

Rich Hammond, [phone]

rich.hammond(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

The Kings' Sean Avery attempts to keep the puck away from Vancouver Canucks' Brendan Morrison during first period play.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer