MIDSEASON REPORT FIRE THEN ICE HOPEFUL KINGS START SECOND HALF TONIGHT.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

As the weary Kings left for the All-Star break Thursday after an impressive 6-3 victory over the mighty Detroit Red Wings, they looked more like they had just ended the season rather than the season's first half.

In many ways they had. They had gone from one of the NHL's top teams in October to a club scarred by injuries and doubt just a few weeks later. Players came back, but the victories did not, at least not until the final two games, when they looked like the group that came flying out of training camp.

The second half opens tonight at the Staples Center against the Mighty Ducks, who also have had an erratic season. Both teams have been guilty of thinking they had found themselves after a big win, only to disappear again.

Can the (23-21-7) Kings develop any consistency during the final two months? The answer is yes. Can they overcome an overwhelming lack of playoff-tested veterans? The answer is no, but the trade deadline is March 14. Right now, the only thing this team cares about is making the playoffs. It should have enough to get there but not beyond the first round.

First things first. The Kings are only two points behind No. 6 San Jose in the Western Conference playoff race and have played five fewer games. But they also are just two points from being out of the postseason with 31 games to play.

There were several signs during the victories over the Red Wings and New York Islanders - their first two-game winning streak since Nov. 16 - that should have a carry-over effect for the rest of the season. There also is a favorable schedule that includes just seven road games in the final six weeks.

The first line of Luc Robitaille, Jozef Stumpel and Ziggy Palffy were big scorers in the last two games. They will be needed the rest of the way. Stumpel, who missed 10 weeks because of hernia surgery and three more with a knee problem, has been the playmaker at center that he was two years ago when he had 58 assists and 79 points. That, by the way, was the only time in the last six years the Kings made the playoffs.

Robitaille is Robitaille, 25 goals on his way to another 40-goal season. Sadly, Robitaille might be the most taken-for-granted player in the league because his overall game does not match his goal- scoring ability. But the Kings' slide in November began when he missed a month with a broken foot. No one picked up the scoring slack.

Palffy has been bothered by a sore lower back the past two months. But in the past two games, he has played like the Palffy who scored 40 or more three straight seasons for the Islanders. Palffy never has been to the playoffs and knows he needs that to let people see his talent. He was snubbed for the All-Star game even though he was among the top vote- getters among the reserves.

The second line is missing Donald Audette, who has been sidelined almost a month with an ankle sprain. He has been replaced by Jason Blake, who has played nicely with veterans Bryan Smolinski and Glen Murray.

Smolinski, who also came over from the Islanders, has actually been more valuable than Palffy. But Murray, who has one of the hardest slap shots in the league, has been streaky. Against New York and Detroit, he and Smolinski worked wonderfully together.

Defensively, captain Rob Blake is having the type of season that could win him his second Norris Trophy in the past three years. Garry Galley has overcome a concussion to contribute some offense. Jere Karalahti has joined the team from Finland and made steady progress.

But Aki Berg remains a mystery. Some nights he is the best player on the ice. More often he looks lost. The Kings know he is just 23 and missed last season in a contract dispute. He is better than when he left but needs to be better every night.

The goaltending has been erratic since Stephane Fiset was sidelined in November for six weeks with a badly bruised hand. He returned too early because Jamie Storr had a concussion and was out of sync. Fiset has looked sharp the past six games, giving Storr time to find his game.

They need to come up with big saves when the team is struggling, but they also will be only as good as their defense is at clearing rebounds in front.

Finally, coach Andy Murray brought accountability and discipline to a team that underachieved last year under Larry Robinson. The way Murray kept the Kings working hard through losses in December and January is proof the club made the right choice hiring him last summer.

But like the rest, Murray's performance will be considered successful only if the team makes the playoffs. That should happen, but the first step begins tonight.

LOS ANGELES KINGS MIDSEASON REPORT

OFFENSE

C

Not a stretch to say the season might hinge on the performance of first-line center Jozef Stumpel. Great playmaker but needs to stayhealthy - a problem throughout his career. Has missed almost three months with knee and abdominal trouble. Luc Robitaille and Ziggy Palffy are gifted scorers, but Palffy is bothered by back trouble that must be monitored the rest of the season. Second-line center Bryan Smolinski has been the steal of the Palffy deal last summer with the Islanders. He has averaged a point a game and made up for inconsistent effort by linemates.

DEFENSE

C

Captain Rob Blake is having perhaps his best season and is a strong candidate for the Norris Trophy as the league's best defenseman. Mattias Norstrom has been solid and Garry Galley has contributed some offense after coming back from a concussion. Aki Berg continues to struggle, but his overall game has improved from two years ago. The group has not always picked up goaltenders on off nights. Need to clear more rebounds in front of the net. Coaches have tried to get forwards to come back on defense. When it works, the Kings win, when it doesn't, they don't.

GOALTENDING

B

Stephane Fiset was impressive to open the season and Jamie Storr was named NHL Player of the Week in early December. Both not only missed considerable playing time but struggled when they returned. Fiset, who was rushed back when Storr was lost with a concussion, fell out of sync and needed time off to regain his rhythm. Storr is still looking for his. The second half will determine which one is protected in this summer's expansion draft.

SPECIAL TEAMS

C-

The power-play and penalty-killing units have been erratic since November. When snipers Robitaille and Palffy are at full strength, the power-play numbers go way up. When Larry Robinson was coach, Blake often played around the net on the power play. Under Andy Murray, he is back at the point firing away. When Robitaille and Palffy are healthy, that means rebounds become goals, which didn't happen the past two months. Rookie defenseman Jere Karalahti also has shown a big shot on the power play.

COACHING

A-

Andy Murray looked like coach of the year the first six weeks when his team had the NHL's best record - and helpless to stop the slide when injuries decimated the team in December. Inherited team with a lot of baggage and got it to stay positive. His greatest strength has been keeping the players working hard through lean moments. Admits he brought back Fiset too soon in December. Has backed off from telling team tonight's game is the most important game of the season.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box, chart

Photo: (1 -- color) Kings Head Coach Andy Murray

(2 -- color) Ziggy Palffy, Luc Robitaille, and Jozef Stumpel

Box: Los Angeles Kings midseason report (see text)

Chart: Here's a week by week account of the Kings; rise and fall in playoff seeding.