Rangers, Kings Skate To Draw

Rob Blake ended a 13-game goal-scoring drought with a career-high three goals as the Los Angeles Kings tied the New York Rangers 5-5 Thursday night.

The star defenseman scored once in each period and assisted on the tying goal by Luc Robitaille.

The Rangers went the first 31 games without a tie the longest stretch from the start of a season in their 75-year history. New York, which has won twice in overtime, was the only NHL team without a tie this season.

Blake, who also assisted on Ziggy Palffy's league-leading 21st goal, faked a shot from the slot and left Robitaille with a wide-open target.

The five-point game, coming in front of the Kings' fifth home sellout, was the first for Blake in his 636-game career.

It was the second hat trick this season by a Kings player against the Rangers. On Nov. 28, Ziggy Palffy scored three times in a 7-6 loss.

Kirk McLean, who ended a string of 10 consecutive starts by goalie Mike Richter, preserved the Rangers' first tie since April 1 by stopping rookie Lubomir Visnovsky on a breakaway with 25 seconds left in overtime.

Robitaille and Palffy also had an assist for the Kings, who lost center Jozef Stumpel in the second period with a broken toe.

Valeri Kamensky scored on a first-period power play and the Rangers also got goals from Sandy McCarthy and Radek Dvorak.

Kamensky trimmed the Kings' lead to 2-1 at 4:34 of the second period with his 11th goal, redirecting Theo Fleury's shot past Stephane Fiset.

Blake restored Los Angeles' two-goal margin at 8:52 of the period with a one-timer that beat McLean high to the stick side. But McCarthy and Dvorak scored less than 2 1/2 minutes apart to pull the Rangers even with 58 seconds left in the period.

New York forward Tim Taylor, who played despite hyperextending his left knee at San Jose Tuesday, won a faceoff from Eric Belanger deep in the Kings' zone and McCarthy beat Fiset high to the glove side for his third goal of the season and second in two games.

Notes