KINGS NOTEBOOK: `SKATEGATE' ADDS INTRIGUE.

Byline: Rich Hammond  Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - An angle or a kick? That's the crucial question in the newest version of Skategate, this one involving the overtime goal by Kings forward Craig Johnson that beat the Colorado Avalanche in Game 5 on Thursday night in Denver.

There is no question the puck deflected off Johnson's skate and into the net. The Kings say Johnson angled his foot to redirect the puck, while the Avalanche insist Johnson kicked the puck, which is illegal.

``He didn't kick it in, he directed it in, and that's legal,'' Kings forward Bryan Smolinski said Friday. ``It's a goal, no question.''

Television replays seem to prove there was no kicking motion, something even the Colorado announcers agreed on, but that didn't stop a round of Kings bashing in Denver on Friday morning, both in the newspapers and on sports-talk radio shows.

Denver Post columnist Mark Kiszla called the Kings liars and cheaters and said Johnson's goal was ``as beautiful as anything Pele ever did on a soccer field,'' comments that weren't appreciated by Kings coach Andy Murray.

``Some of the reports out of Colorado, some of the sarcasm that was used there is ridiculous,'' Murray said. ``I'm not talking about the team, I'm talking about the media, (saying) we lied and cheated and all this kind of stuff.

``To me, a kicking motion is when you're behind the puck and move forward on the puck, that's what I would look at. There was no hesitation. They had a guy looking at it upstairs, and a guy in Toronto watching it who has a direct line to Denis Morel. If they felt it wasn't a goal, they would have called right away.''

Murray also questioned the lack of an outcry after Game 1, when an apparent goal by Johnson was disallowed even though the puck crossed the line before the referee's whistle and before the net was dislodged.

--Walking wounded: The Kings will be without forward Adam Deadmarsh and defenseman Philippe Boucher for tonight's Game 6 at Staples Center, while the status of forward Cliff Ronning remains in doubt.

Ronning, who has been suffering from concussion-like symptoms, took part in an optional practice Friday after doctors cleared him to return. However, Murray hasn't said whether he'll insert Ronning into the lineup.

Deadmarsh (neck strain) is listed as day to day, as is Boucher (injured right eye), although Boucher probably wouldn't return for at least a week. Murray reiterated that Lubomir Visnovsky will take Boucher's spot in the lineup.

Murray probably will continue to tinker with the top line, as he did in Game 5, substituting several players to replace Deadmarsh alongside Jason Allison and Ziggy Palffy.

``That's just a test for us, a challenge,'' Murray said. ``Bring it on. We've met a lot of different tests and challenges this year, so I don't give it a second thought, to be honest.''

KINGS vs. COLORADO

Faceoff: 3 p.m., at Staples Center.

TV/Radio: Ch. 7; 1110-AM.

Matchup: Jaroslav Modry assisted on Craig Johnson's winning goal in Game 5 and recorded just the third point for Kings defensemen in the series. The Kings have one of the best groups of offensive-minded defensemen in the league, but the Avalanche have received a total of six points from their defensemen.

- Rich Hammond

CAPTION(S):

2 boxes

Box:

(1) KINGS vs. COLORADO (see text)

(2) KINGS vs. COLORADO: Colorado leads best-of-seven series 3-2