St. Louis Sends Kings Packing

The St. Louis Blues are headed to the playoffs on a three-game winning streak. The Los Angeles Kings face a much less certain future.

Blair Atcheynum scored twice and Scott Young added a goal as the Blues beat the Kings 3-2 Sunday in the final regular-season NHL game at the Forum.

The Kings are expected to play a couple of exhibition games at the 32-year-old building next season before moving to the new Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.

"We're solidified in the fifth (playoff) spot and they are just playing for pride," St. Louis defenseman Chris Pronger said. "That's pretty tough, when you know you're not going to make the playoffs. You try not to run around too much."

The Kings will be getting a new home, and possibly a new coach.

Los Angeles finished with a 32-45-5 record, and may have been coached for the last time by Larry Robinson. His four-year contract expires after this season, and Robinson declined to sign an extension that was offered last September when the team was struggling.

A somber Robinson said after the game that he would meet with Kings general manager Dave Taylor on Monday morning to discuss his future.

"I'd still like to remain in hockey," Robinson said. "The fact remains whether they want me back or not, I feel that we've started something good here."

It's just the opposite for St. Louis coach Joel Quenneville. He won his 100th game, becoming the fifth coach to do so in the team's history. The Blues won the season series 3-0-1 and snapped the Kings' three-game winning streak in front of 16,005, the fifth sellout of the season.

The Blues, who were 37-32-13 in the regular season, open the playoffs later this week against Phoenix.

"We were gearing up for the playoffs and we were playing the game not to get hurt," Quenneville said. "The guys were relying on their skill, passing and their stick. That is why we might have been ragged."

The Kings, swept by the Blues in the first round last season, failed to make the playoffs for the fifth time in the last six years.

St. Louis backup goalie Jamie McLennan made 36 saves for his first victory since Feb. 22, when he also beat the Kings.

"Jamie looked good," Quenneville said. "That's what I liked about the game is how well he played."

McLennan denied several scoring chances by Luc Robitaille, who fell one goal short of setting a Kings record for most 40-goal seasons.

"I kept trying to shoot and I had my chance and hit the post," Robitaille said. "I'll get more next year."

The Blues led 1-0 on a one-timer by Atcheynum from the top of the left circle that beat Kings goalie Stephane Fiset down low at 13:17 of the first period.

Young extended his goal-scoring streak to six games with a wrist shot from the left circle at 5:02 of the second period for a 2-0 lead.

Fiset saved 19 of 21 shots before leaving after two periods. He was replaced by Ryan Bach, who promptly gave up a second goal to Atcheynum in his third appearance for the Kings. Bach faced six shots in the period.

Atcheynum made it 3-0 with his 10th of the season from in front of the net on a feed by Craig Conroy at 1:45 of the third. Conroy and Pascal Rheaume had two assists each.

Jason Blake, signed by the Kings a day earlier to an amateur tryout contract, scored his first NHL goal at 12:03 of the third to spoil the shutout.

"The experience was awesome," said Blake, who found out Friday night that he had been called up. "The last game in the Forum and the first game I ever play in, what a great way to start your career."

Vladimir Tsyplakov pulled the Kings to 3-2 when he scored over McLennan's shoulder at 18:02.

St. Louis left wing Geoff Courtnall, who had goals in his last two games after returning from post concussion syndrome, lacerated his nose in the first period and did not return.

©1999 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed