Hrudey Makes 50 Saves Hockey: Kings defeat Devils, 3-2, when Taylor beats Terreri with 4:16 to play. Millen scores for New Jersey.

Kelly Hrudey has learned how to block distractions out of his mind as proficiently as he blocks shots, and the Kings’ goaltender says he has never felt better.

As long as his approach succeeds, as it did so impressively in the Kings’ 3-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday, he’s not about to analyze why it works.

“I haven’t thought about why I feel so good, and I think that’s good,” he said. “I haven’t racked my brain to figure why I’m feeling so good physically or why I’m making saves I usually can’t. I’m indifferent to everything this year, good play, bad play, a lot of shots, whatever. I’m going to take whatever’s thrown at me and do my best.”

He matched his season high by stopping 50 of 52 shots thrown at him Wednesday, delighting a Forum sellout crowd of 16,005 and keeping his teammates in a game the Devils threatened to wrest away from them in the second period.

The Devils had scored the game’s first goal at 13:50 of the second period, when former King Corey Millen darted to the right post to rebound Randy McKay’s shot. Devil goalie Chris Terreri protected the lead until Jari Kurri’s wrist shot sailed past his stick at 1:17 of the third period to tie the score.

Wayne Gretzky pounced on a turnover to give the Kings a 2-1 lead at 2:34, taking a 35-foot shot that became his ninth goal of the season and 774th of his career. He’s 27 short of tying Gordie Howe’s career record of 801.

But that lead lasted only until 3:18, when Scott Stevens poked the puck past Hrudey from close range after a pass from Bernie Nicholls.

“We said between periods that it was like a playoff game, between two teams that were evenly matched,” King Coach Barry Melrose said. “Whichever team blinked first was going to lose.”

Terreri, who had won his previous five decisions, blinked with 4:16 to play, enabling the Kings (7-5-2) to record back-to-back victories for the first time since Oct. 10-12.

Dave Taylor, taking a pass banged to him off the boards by Tim Watters, chugged up the right wing and unleashed a slap shot from about 10 feet above the circle. Terreri came out to play the angle and had it calculated well, but he didn’t calculate the force of Taylor’s shot.

“I got just about all of it,” Terreri said, “but not enough.”

Said Taylor: “I thought he had it when I shot. It looked like he had pinched it between his legs. A lot of times, that’s what happens when both goalies play well, that you get a fluky goal that wins it. We’re fortunate it went our way.”

Taylor’s goal, backed by Hrudey’s play in net, was enough to send the Devils to their third loss in four games after a 7-0 start.

“The better team out there didn’t win tonight,” Stevens said. “But those things happen sometimes. Hopefully, they’ll even out.”

Hrudey is determined to maintain an even emotional keel after a turbulent 1992-93 season that saw him fall out of favor with Melrose and slump at midseason.

He did his job exceptionally well Wednesday against a team that can attack in waves, with defensemen like Stevens often jumping into the play. “We don’t say, ‘Oh, Kelly made the save.’ We expect him to make saves,” Melrose said.

Melrose, a vocal critic of his team during its 2-4-1 trip, is happier now.

“We’re playing much better. The last two games have been excellent,” Melrose said. “I like the way we’re going. We’re headed in the right direction.

“Why did we slump? A lack of effort. See, I’ve got a keen analytical mind.”

King Notes

A week after saying they had enough toughness despite the departure of Marty McSorley, the Kings acquired defenseman Doug Houda--hardly a finesse player--and sent right wing Marc Potvin to the Hartford Whalers. Potvin, acquired by the Kings last January with Jimmy Carson and Gary Shuchuk for Paul Coffey, had no points in three games this season. Houda, 27, played two seasons for King Coach Barry Melrose with Adirondack of the American Hockey League. He had no points, 23 penalty minutes and a minus-four defensive rating in seven games for Hartford this season; for his career, he has 50 points and 607 penalty minutes in 311 games. He’s expected to practice with the Kings today. “We need a defenseman who will stay at home, clear the net and move the puck up to the forwards,” General Manager Nick Beverley said. “Charlie Huddy is going to be out a while (because of a groin strain) and we want to get a little experience there.”

Tomas Sandstrom came back after sitting out three games because of a pulled hamstring. . . . Carson was benched again, as was Shuchuk. . . . The Kings collected money to aid fire victims and will do so again Saturday. Fans are asked to bring canned goods and non-perishable food items to that game. Those items will be given to the Salvation Army to distribute.