RETURN ENGAGEMENT KINGS BACK IN PLAYOFFS AFTER BEATING DUCKS KINGS 2, DUCKS 1.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

An hour later, the dressing room was quiet, but Luc Robitaille still could hear the cheers.

Of all the milestones he reached this season, Robitaille said the only thing that ever mattered was reaching the playoffs.

So when the Kings finally qualified Saturday afternoon with a 2-1 victory over the Mighty Ducks at the sold-out Staples Center, Robitaille hung around.

Rookies might think this happens every year, but for the Kings it was just the second time in the past seven years.

``And man, does it feel good,'' said Robitaille, who played his 1,000th game and scored his 1,100th point this year. ``For so many reasons.''

--Like goaltender Stephane Fiset, who overcame two major injuries this season to give perhaps his finest performance against the Ducks.

--Or first-year coach Andy Murray, the long-time NHL assistant who was spurned by the Ducks a year ago but came here on a platform of hard work and accountability.

--And even Ian Laperriere, the undersized enforcer who scored the winning goal.

``I think back to last year and how sad everything was and now everything is so great,'' Laperriere said. ``Even tonight, we came back. That's what we've done all season. It's nice to say it's not over.''

The Kings practice today before leaving for Phoenix, where they play Monday night. They have four games left. The first round of the playoffs opens April 12 or 13 and they are expected to face the Detroit Red Wings, who are fourth in the conference.

Saturday, the Kings (37-30-11) came back from a first period when they did not even take a shot at Ducks goaltender Guy Hebert. That hadn't happened to them since November 1997 in a game against Florida. But they won that game, too.

When the Kings opened the second period still sluggish and trailing 1-0 on a goal by Teemu Selanne, Murray called timeout and blistered his team.

The game was televised by ABC and cameras caught the beet-faced Murray tearing into every player who looked his way.

``We were well into the second period and we hadn't shown up yet,'' Murray said. ``Why wait until the end to call a timeout. The game was right there.''

Just a minute later, newcomer Kelly Buchberger took the Kings' first shot after a pass by Glen Murray and beat Hebert to tie the game at one.

The goal was a lift, but the momentum shifted for good just seconds later on a flurry in front of the Kings' net.

Paul Kariya took aim at Fiset and unloaded from the slot. Fiset made the stop but was sprawled on the ice when the puck popped out to Ed Ward in front.

Ward had a wide-open net, but his shot was stopped by the skate of Kings center Bryan Smolinski.

``It was the save of the game, maybe the season,'' Fiset said. ``I had no chance and if they score they retake the lead. This was a big game for them, too.''

The Ducks came in three points from the eighth and final playoff spot in the West. But No. 8 San Jose lost to Calgary 3-0.

They still have two games remaining with Nashville and one with Chicago, the two worst teams in the conference. They close out the season next Sunday against the Kings in Anaheim.

``They are such a talented team, you have to keep pressure on them all the time,'' Robitaille said of the Ducks. ``We wanted to get this done tonight.''

The game-winning goal came exactly at the eight-minute mark of the third period.

Without injured scorers Ziggy Palffy and Nelson Emerson out of the lineup, Murray knew goals were at a premium. Assistant Mark Hardy suggested adding Laperriere as a second center on the ice.

Bob Corkum won the faceoff. Defenseman Aki Berg swung the puck to Jaroslav Modry, who fired from the right point. Hebert made the stop, but Robitaille took a poke at the rebound.

Laperriere also was parked in front and lifted the puck over Hebert's left shoulder to make it 2-1.

``How about that,'' Laperriere said. ``They made a goal scorer out of me. I guess this year, anything is possible.''PLAYOFF TICKETS

Kings tickets for the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs will go on sale Friday at 5 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased at the Staples Center box office, through TicketMaster outlets or by calling [phone].

First-round prices are $108.50, $105, $85, $65, $55.50, $35.50, $28.50 and $17.50.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo: (1 -- color) The Kings' Kelly Buchberger celebrates after scoring on Ducks goalie Guy Hebert in the second period at Staples Center.

(2) Kings goalie Stephane Fiset (35) stops a shot as teammate Mattias Norstrom and Ducks' Steve Ruchin battle.

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Box: Playoff tickets (see text)