ROLE REVERSAL HELPS KINGS GET WIN GRIMSON IS SCORER, PALFFY THE TOUGH GUY AGAINST EDMONTON KINGS 4, EDMONTON 2.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

EDMONTON - Ziggy Palffy figured if Stu Grimson can score goals, he can be a tough guy.

There was Palffy, the league's leading scorer, heading to the penalty box early in the third period of the Kings' 4-2 victory Saturday over the Edmonton Oilers. He had crunched Doug Weight into the boards then tried to take on a few Edmonton players on his way off the ice.

Kings coach Andy Murray shook his head. Grimson, the team's real enforcer, already had scored his second goal in two games after going 12 years with just 13. But the sight of Palffy wrasslin' with the Oilers might have been just as important as Grimson's goal.

``Every night you see him play and you just know he's going to get his one or two points,'' said Kings goaltender Jamie Storr, who stopped 22 of 24 shots. ``What kind of gets overlooked is the all-around game. He's tough and when they get physical, he gives it back. He is such a joy to watch.''

The Oilers are one of the teams the Kings are hoping to overtake in the Western Conference. The Kings (34 points) are now tied with Edmonton in the standings and face a difficult challenge with a road game tonight against Vancouver, another tough conference opponent. The Kings, who ended a five-game winless string on the road, have played one game less than Edmonton.

And just to prove he isn't a complete goon, Palffy capped the scoring midway through the third period with his 20th goal of the season, giving him 44 points.

Grimson's goal turned out to be the game-winner at the 13:42 mark of the second period, breaking a 2-2 tie. It also was one of 16 shots the Kings took at Oilers goaltender Tommy Salo in the second, when the game shifted from uptempo to a physical grind.

Grimson worked his way in front of Salo and took a pass from Mattias Norstrom to find the net.

Grimson got his first goal in almost a year in last Thursday's 5-2 victory against the Dallas Stars. Teammate Ian Laperrerie shot the puck in front of the net, hitting a skate before going in off Grimson's head.

That goal was critical to the victory because the Kings have been seeking more scoring from their third and fourth lines. They are among the league leaders in goals and are third in the NHL on the power play, but wanted to get some momentum heading into Canada.

Grimson wasn't biting when asked if he had any tips for Palffy, the fighter. But he does know the importance of beating one of the better teams in the West.

``It certainly wasn't the prettiest game, but it was an emotional game against a conference opponent,'' Grimson said. ``This was good for us. The Oilers are a good team playing well. Any time you can't get some offense from the third or fourth line, it is a positive.''

The victory raised the Kings' record to 14-9-6. Defenseman Rob Blake, who had two assists, was the game's first star.

It didn't look good at first when Ryan Smyth gave the Oilers a 1-0 lead midway through the first period with a power-play goal.

Bryan Smolinski was off for tripping when Tom Poti fired a shot from the point. Storr made the stop but the Kings couldn't clear the puck. Smyth poked in the rebound, extending his scoring streak to nine games.

But the Kings quickly tied the game, again on the power play. Palffy, from behind the Oilers net, found Luc Robitaille in the slot. Robitaille beat Salo, who was coming off a shutout against Nashville, for his 15th goal of the season and 568th of his career.

``The goal was good, the win was better,'' Palffy said. ``The fighting? I don't know. I got a little crazy.''

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Photo: The Edmonton Oilers' Anson Carter, left, is checked by the Kings' Mattias Norstrom during Los Angeles' 4-2 victory Saturday.

Dale McMillian/Associated Press