Kings’ Tocchet Does the Trick : Hockey: Former Penguin, acquired in Robitaille trade, scores three goals in 4-3 victory over Red Wings.

Three goals by a King player? Sounds a bit like a straight line the way things have gone this season.

Simply scoring three goals could be considered an achievement with the King offense having been reduced to a trickle. But right wing Rick Tocchet took matters into his own hands and got the 12th hat trick of his career, leading the Kings to a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday night.

The sellout crowd of 16,005 at the Forum saluted Tocchet with a shower of hats, seemingly grateful for the second victory of the season for the Kings (2-4-1). Tocchet finished off the hat trick at 7:52 of the third period, putting away a rebound with a shot from the lower left circle. Jari Kurri added two assists.

“Three goals is great, but I’ll be honest, this is probably the biggest two points of the year,” Tocchet said. “We had to have this game. You hate to say must-win, but it was.”

His third of the game was his fifth goal of the season and seventh point. Tocchet’s last hat trick came on April 7, 1993, against Montreal when he was with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The most recent King hat trick was by forward John Druce on April 13, 1994 against Calgary.

“We’ve got to get points,” said King Coach Barry Melrose, who ran a rigorous week of practice and often-heated individual meetings with players.

“We did a lot of good things. It’s not like we backed in and Kelly (Hrudey) had to face 87 shots.”

Naturally, any King victory was not achieved without a few anxious moments. The Red Wings cut the lead to 4-3 when Ray Sheppard scored with 54 seconds remaining on a six-on-four advantage. Defenseman Darryl Sydor went off for tripping Paul Coffey at 17:45 and goaltender Mike Vernon was pulled for an extra attacker.

The Kings were without one-third of their usual defense because Rob Blake and Michel Petit remain sidelined with strained groins. And it was a sharp re-appearance for King goaltender Hrudey, who made his first appearance since Jan. 22. Hrudey, facing 35 shots, had been out of the lineup with a bruised right kneecap when he took a shot square on the knee against Edmonton. The Kings helped matters by outshooting the Red Wings, 12-0, in the first 10:25.

But what would a game be like without another injury? The Kings were forced to finish the game without defenseman Sean O’Donnell, who suffered a bruised chest in the second period, left the game and had problems breathing.

“I think our organization is down to 10 healthy defensemen,” Melrose said.”

Amid the injuries and lack of scoring (Sydor had the first King goal), Tocchet has been one of the few bright spots. Acquired in a controversial trade that sent left wing Luc Robitaille to Pittsburgh in July, Tocchet has been a strong physical force in front of the net, especially on the power play.

Tocchet’s first goal came on the power play at 13:26 of the second period to make it 2-1 and he scored 1:11 later on a no-look backhanded shot from the right crease.

“From Day 1, he’s done what we’ve expected,” Melrose said.

Said Tocchet: “I’ve been playing passive the last two games. I’ve got to get forward, to the front of the net. And I think I did that tonight.”

King Notes

The Canucks used an oxygen chamber to help quicken the healing process of injured players on their way to the Stanley Cup finals last spring. So two injured King defensemen--Rob Blake and Michel Petit both out with strained groins--journeyed to Simi Valley during the week to use an oxygen chamber. . . . Defenseman Chris Snell, called up from Phoenix on Friday, made his King debut. Snell, who was acquired from Toronto in a six-player trade in October, wore No. 29. Snell played two games for the Maple Leafs last season. . . . The other scratches were Matt Johnson, Troy Crowder (sprained right wrist) and Warren Rychel. In five games, Rychel has no points, 19 penalty minutes and is a minus five on the plus-minus defensive scale. . . . King director of amateur scouting Al Murray and Dave Taylor are on a lengthy European scouting trip this month, attending four tournaments, including one in the Czech Republic.