Coffey Finally Gets Untracked : NHL playoffs: His two first-period goals and two assists are major factors in the Kings’ victory.

Paul Coffey didn’t take long to make his presence felt with the Kings, scoring a goal against the Edmonton Oilers only a few hours after he was acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Feb. 19.

But until Monday night, when he scored two goals at the Forum in the Kings’ 8-5 victory over the Oilers in Game 2 of a best-of-seven Smythe Division semifinal playoff series, Coffey hadn’t scored a goal since.

The NHL’s all-time scoring leader among defenseman, a three-time first-team NHL All-Star, a four-time second-team All-Star and a two-time winner of the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s top defenseman, Coffey had accumulated only five points in 11 games against the Kings.

He had four against the Oilers, adding a pair of second-period assists after scoring two first-period goals, to establish a club playoff record.

“It was nice,� said Coffey, who was sidelined for 11 of the Kings’ last 21 games of the regular season because of wrist and back injuries. “I’ve had a tough time getting on track, getting my hands, getting my legs, getting a feel for things, because I haven’t played that many games.�

Said Coach Tom Webster: “He’s still trying to find his timing. As each game comes on, you’re going to see him get better and better.�

He was pretty good in helping the Kings even the series.

“It was a huge win for our team,� Coffey, 30, said. “We’re all well aware that we came out pretty flat in Game 1.�

But not in Game 2.

Coffey scored his first goal 46 seconds into the game, stationing himself just outside the crease to the left of the net, taking a pass from behind the net from Wayne Gretzky and lifting the puck past Oiler goaltender Bill Ranford into the upper left corner of the net.

“It was just a great play by Wayne,� Coffey said of Gretzky, whose assist gave him the 300th playoff point of his career. “There’s not a guy who passes the puck better than him from behind the net. All I did was get the opening. I knew (the pass) would be on my stick, and it was.�

Coffey, who has 42 goals and 91 assists in 119 playoff games, scored his second goal on a shot from the blue line at 14:53.

“It was another great pass from Wayne and a good job by our guys in front of the net,� Coffey said. “I just tried to get it on net, and I was lucky that it went in.�

In the second period, Coffey assisted on a goal by Marty McSorley that pulled the Kings into a 4-4 tie at 11:57 before assisting on a goal by Charlie Huddy that gave the Kings a 6-4 lead at 19:14.

“He did the things we got him for,� Gretzky said. “He scored (both of his goals) on the power play; he blocked shots late in the game. You’ve got to understand, he’s one of the best defensemen ever to play the game, and he’s a champion. He wants to win.�

The Kings have won 11 of 32 playoff games against the Oilers. They are 11-4 when they score four goals or more, 0-17 when they don’t.