KINGS WIN THIRD STRAIGHT : KINGS 2, ST. LOUIS 1.

Byline: Tim Trepany Daily News Staff Writer

It's time to pick up the Kings and brush the dirt off them.

Given up for dead after sliding to the bottom of the Western Conference standings during a disastrous December, they now possess a three-game winning streak.

Dimitri Khristich's goal with 32.5 seconds remaining gave the Kings a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night at the Forum.

It marked the first time the Kings have won three straight since October 12-17, the fifth, sixth and seventh games of the season.

``Three wins in a row is great,'' Kings left wing Kevin Stevens said. ``If we didn't get these three, we could have been out of it at the All-Star break. That would have been fun, the last 40 games.''

Khristich and Stevens have led the resurgence.

Khristich's game-winner was his third goal and fifth point during the winning streak. Stevens' first-period tally increased his goal-scoring streak to three games.

The struggling Stevens, who hasn't been able to score consistently for two seasons, has shown signs of life since taking over the team captaincy from injured Rob Blake.

His goal was his seventh of the season and this is his first three-game scoring streak.

``Deep down inside, (his prolonged scoring problems) affected him,'' Kings coach Larry Robinson said. ``Nobody likes to be told they can't play or they're over the hill. He handled it well. He kept it inside and he didn't put the blame on anybody but himself.''

Khristich's goal was set up by Kai Nurminen, who dug the puck off the side boards. It went to Vladimir Tysplakov, who tipped it ahead to Khristich.

Khristich fired a slap shot from inside the blue line, just ahead of Blues defenseman Al MacInnis' poke check. The shot beat goalie Grant Fuhr high on the glove side.

``My concern was missing (MacInnis') stick,'' Khristich said. ``I tried to shoot as hard as I could and miss the stick. It happened to go in the right place.''

Kings goalie Byron Dafoe, in his first start in five games, made 27 saves, including two shots by Pierre Turgeon in close.

He also stopped Russ Courtnall on a breakaway late in the second period.

With the Kings holding a 1-0 lead, the Blues answered with a power-play goal midway through the second period. Brett Hull fought off defenseman Philippe Boucher in front of the net and one-timed a pass from Geoff Courtnall through Dafoe's legs to tie the score.

Kings notes: Blake (broken right hand) will not go on the Kings' road trip to Detroit and Toronto, and won't play in Saturday's NHL All-Star Game. ``It will give him another week to (heal),'' Robinson said. . . . Eight former players, including assistant general manager Dave Taylor and television analyst Jim Fox, will represent the Kings in the Heroes of Hockey Game as part of the NHL All-Star Game weekend in San Jose. Also playing are ex-Kings goalie Gary Simmons, defensemen Terry Harper and Gilles Marotte, and forwards Ron Duguay, Ross Lonsberry and former Triple Crown Line member Charlie Simmer. Fred Glover and Red Kelly will coach a team made up of players from California teams against retired players from throughout the NHL. . . .

Right wing Yanic Perreault returned to the lineup after missing 12 games with an abdominal strain. He replaced Brad Smyth on a line with Stevens and centered by Neal Broten. . . . Smyth was a healthy scratch along with defenseman John Slaney. . . . Defensemen Sean O'Donnell (sprained wrist) and Steven Finn (low back strain), and right wing Vitali Yachmenev (sprained ankle) did not play.