LEAFS TIE UP KINGS IN THIRD NOLAN'S SCORE CAPS 3-GOAL RALLY KINGS 4, TORONTO 4.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

Things almost seemed too good for the Kings. They were coming off a great trip, got two goals from Alexander Frolov and took a three-goal lead into the third period Thursday night.

Then they watched it all disintegrate when the Toronto Maple Leafs scored three times in the third period to force a 4-4 tie in front of 17,163 at Staples Center.

For nearly two weeks, the Kings have been a scrappy and successful bunch, ignoring the absence of top players and a penalty-killing unit that remains the worst in the league.

Against the Maple Leafs, everything was exposed at the end. The Kings allowed two power-play goals in the third period. They had eight shots in the third and only one in overtime.

``It's the kind of game where you take the point and immediately start looking at the next game,'' Eric Belanger said. ``We don't feel too good right now.''

Not after Owen Nolan caught Kings goaltender Roman Cechmanek out of position and scored on the power play with 3:31 left in regulation. It was the same Cechmanek who, as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers, beat the Leafs in the first round of last year's playoffs.

Toronto also received goals from Gary Roberts and Alexander Mogilny in the third period, which offset three goals by the Kings in the second period.

Even with the point, the Kings' recent roll was derailed. They had won three of four on their recent trip to Florida, Tampa Bay, Carolina and Washington to move into the top spot in the Pacific Division.

There was no denying a big night for Frolov, who was viewed as a timid player during his rookie year last season. But including a two-goal night against Phoenix on Nov. 1, Frolov has four goals in his past two home games.

Both goals looked as if they would be enough Thursday against the Maple Leafs, embarrassed 5-1 Wednesday night by the Mighty Ducks.

Roberts scored with 12:26 remaining in regulation after Luc Robitaille was called for hooking. With less than five minutes left, Toronto went on the power play after Mattias Norstrom was called for holding at the Kings' net.

That set up Nolan's tying goal.

In addition to Frolov, Robitaille and Derek Armstrong also scored for the Kings, who are 5-0-1-1 in their past six games, a streak that began in the game against the Coyotes.

Ziggy Palffy had two assists and now has 17 for the season, one behind Colorado's Alex Tanguay for the league lead.

Despite an average age of 30, the Leafs almost always play better in the second game of back-to-back efforts. They came in 3-0 this season and 14-3-1-1 in the second game of back-to-backs in the last calendar year.

``It was not a sullen (dressing) room after the second period,'' Leafs coach Pat Quinn said. ``We had a long way to go, but this is a good group.''

Although Toronto pressured Cechmanek with 11 shots in the first period, Frolov made the difference.

His first goal came 8:02 into the game when he took a long pass off the boards from Trent Klatt and held off Tomas Kaberle as he skated in on Leafs' goaltender Mikael Tellqvist and scored.

The only thing that was alarming was that the Kings were 0 for 4 on the power play with two shots in the opening period. Their failure to convert came back to haunt them.

And it seemed like opportunities lost when Mikael Renberg tied the game 1-1 just 2:34 into the second.

But Frolov put the Kings back on top just four minutes later. Robitaille took a shot in front of the Leafs' net and Frolov got the rebound and scored. It gave Frolov his sixth goal of the season. He finished last year with 14.

Frolov had a chance for a hat trick in the final minute of the period with Renberg off for holding. Frolov skated in Tellqvist with Klatt screening in front, but instead of shooting he dropped the puck for Armstrong, who scored his sixth goal.

``It's not really a good feeling right now,'' Frolov said. ``Giving up those three goals in the third period was not good and we have to win these games. We have to be better and not commit the same mistakes we had in the third tonight.''

Matt McHale, [phone]

matt.mchale(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

Toronto's Matt Stajan is held back by the Kings' Aaron Miller after goalie Roman Cechmanek watches a blocked shot in the third period.

Chris Urso/Associated Press