KINGS WON'T JUMP START TIE WITH BLUES ISN'T HELPFUL KINGS 1, ST. LOUIS 1.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

The Kings didn't win Thursday night, but there was a Bryan Smolinski sighting.

Smolinski, who has slumped the past five weeks, scored the Kings' only goal in a 1-1 tie with the St. Louis Blues in front of a disappointing crowd of 15,055 at Staples Center.

For Smolinski, it was his fifth goal of the season but just his second in 14 games. He didn't even record a point in his last six. And all this after an outstanding 2000-01 season where he scored 27 goals.

His season has been much like the Kings', who entered the game just one point out of last place in the Western Conference. After last season's spirited playoff run, which was partially led by Smolinski, the Kings (8-13-4-2) have been flat all year.

Heading into a three-game trip that begins Saturday night against the Blues in St. Louis, the Kings were hoping to get a little momentum.

The Blues, usually one of the NHL elite, has been inconsistent lately. In their last 11 games, they lost four, then won four then dropped one and tied two.

They are third in the Central Division behind runaway Detroit and surprising Chicago, which the second stop on the Kings trip.

Smolinski's goal with less than four minutes left in the second period came on the power play, which was booed in Monday's 2-0 loss to Calgary for blowing a pair of five-on-three opportunities.

With Scott Young off for slashing Phillippe Boucher at center ice, Jaroslav Modry quarterbacked the power play from the point.

He took a slap shot from the blue line that struck St. Louis goaltender Brent Johnson. The puck squirted out and Smolinski pounded it home.

It was Smolinski's fifth goal of the season. Modry now has a team high 14 assists.

It was the reward for a strong second period in which the Kings outshot the Blues 13-6.

But it was not enough for a victory. Felix Potvin was solid in goal for the third consecutive game, blocking 23 shots, including three in overtime. He received the first star of the game.

The Kings did not fare as well against Blues goaltender Brent Johnson. Johnson, who faced 21 shots and none in OT.

As in most games this season, the Kings weren't outplayed, they were just behind heading into the final minutes of the second period.

After a scoreless first period in which Ian Laperriere hit the post on a short-handed scoring chance, the Blues took a 1-0 lead just 4:03 into the second.

Jamal Mayers dug out the puck from behind the Kings net and got it to Scott Mellanby, who slid it across the crease to a waiting Stillman. Stillman's wrist shot sailed over Potvin's glove hand for his fourth goal of the season.

The quick-moving game was far different than the first meeting between the clubs October 11 in St. Louis.

In that one, the Kings scored four goals in the third period, including the game winner by Steve Heinze with just 37 seconds left in regulation.

Smolinski had two assists in that game, a 6-5 victory. Kings coach Andy Murray often has called it one of the club's worst games of the year.

Little did he know how hard it would be to win this season.

Smolinski has been part of the problem. Two weeks after that game, the Kings pulled off the blockbuster that sent his good friend Glen Murray and Jozef Stumpel to Boston for Jason Allison.

The second line Smolinski centered was gutted and he never recovered.

As the Kings have struggled Smolinski has been moved around the lineup. Now he spends most of his time as a winger with Jason Allison's first unit.

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

(color) Kings goalie Felix Potvin prepares to smother shot try by the St. Louis Blues' Cory Stillman during game Thursday night at Staples Center.

John Hayes/Associated Press