KINGS SALVAGE A TIE : FISET SOLVES OILERS BY STOPPING 31 SHOTS KINGS 2, EDMONTON 2.

Byline: Tim Trepany Daily News Staff Writer

The last time Stephane Fiset faced the Edmonton Oilers, the Kings goalie was embarrassed.

He lasted only 28 minutes, 36 seconds before the Oilers chased him by scoring four goals on just 17 shots.

Fiset faced them Saturday for the first time since that forgetful outing and stuck around to the end this time.

He stopped 31 shots to lead the Kings to a 2-2 tie before an announced 12,027 fans at the Forum.

``The game tonight it was the same Fiset you saw at the start of the year,'' Kings coach Larry Robinson said. ``Confidence is a big thing, but in a goaltender's case, it's even bigger because you're back there alone.''

Fiset made several outstanding saves, but he guessed wrong on Jason Arnott's game-tying goal with 1 minute, 48 seconds remaining in the third period.

The Kings were on a power play when Ray Ferraro was called for tripping, a penalty Robinson termed ``bad.'' Not only did it wipe out the Kings' man advantage, but it gave the Oilers a power play for 44 seconds.

Arnott came down right wing and, with Fiset diving left, shot high and on the goalie's right side.

``That was a 2 on 1, so I have to slide right away because he could shoot it right away. You can't take chances,'' Fiset said. ``He shot right (beneath) my arm when I was sliding. That was a good shot.''

The tie broke a three-game losing streak for Fiset (8-21-5), who last won on Feb. 3 against the Calgary Flames.

He made two big saves in the closing minutes of regulation with the Kings clinging to a one-goal lead. He got his left pad on a shot by Todd Marchant from inside the right circle with just 4:06 remaining in the third period, then stopped Donald Dufresne from point-blank range with 2:40 left.

Fiset was aided by a defense that limited the Oilers' opportunities and killed five of six power plays, including one in overtime when Kings forward Ian Laperriere was called for tripping Arnott.

After that man advantage, right wing Vitali Yachmenev just missed giving the Kings a victory, hitting the right post on a 2 on 1 with Ferraro with 1:30 left.

Fiset blanked the Oilers for almost the first 30 minutes of the game, but Andrei Kovalenko beat him from in front with a backhanded shot that went between the goalie's legs at 9:39 of the second period.

The goal gave the Oilers a 1-0 lead, not a good sign for the fragile Kings. They entered having won only four of the 30 games opponents have scored first (4-23-3).

But for a change, they didn't fold. Goals by Eddie Olczyk and defenseman Sean O'Donnell sent them into the third period leading 2-1.

It was O'Donnell's third goal in the past five games, his only goals of the season. He also has four assists during that span, doubling his season total.

Kings notes: Kings trainer Pete Demers worked his 2,000th straight game and was presented with a commemorative trophy before the opening faceoff. ``My great motivator is pride, as it is for all athletic trainers,'' he said. ``It is a great feeling to make this contribution. The hours are crazy at times, but it is still fun coming to work every day.'' . . . Wing Vladimir Tsyplakov joined the Kings injured list because of a groin pull. He didn't play against Edmonton and the Kings are listing Tsyplakov as day-to-day, but they're notorious for underplaying the seriousness of injuries. Dimitri Khristich, for example, had laser surgery to repair a partially torn retina in his right eye last week, but the Kings list him as having a ``laceration near right eye'' on their injury report. Khristich was supposed to skate Saturday morning, but decided instead to take the day off because it was an optional workout. He is expected to skate today. He attended the Oilers game, but refused an interview request to discuss the injury, which happened when teammate Barry Potomski intentionally struck him with his stick during a drill in practice.

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Photo

Photo: Oilers left wing Miroslav Satan misses his shot against Kings goaltender Stephane Fiset in the first period at the Forum.

Associated Press