Wayne Who? Kings Surge Past Blues, 9-3 : Hockey: Injured Gretzky is spectator as club ties its season-high for goals. Los Angeles scores twice in its first three shots.

So who needs Wayne Gretzky?

With the league’s leading point-producer watching from owner Bruce Mcall’s box Saturday night, the Kings blasted the St. Louis Blues, 9-3, before a crowd of 16,005 at the Forum.

It was an explosive evening for the rest of the Kings. Real fun while it lasted.

But they wouldn’t want it to last too long. Certainly not into the playoffs. Because they know, without Gretzky, there won’t be many nights such as this.

Right now, Gretzky, still suffering from the strained lower back suffered Thursday night against the New York Islanders, doesn’t know when he’ll be back.

“We can’t win without Wayne,� Bob Kudelski said. “But he’s hurt, so it’s up to us to pick up the slack. This game was a real confidence booster, and I’m sure it even makes Wayne feel better.�

In tying their season high for goals, the Kings won for the sixth time in eight games, improving their record to 34-36-6.

The Blues, one point back of the Chicago Blackhawks for the Norris Division lead, lost an opportunity to move on top after Chicago had been defeated earlier in the evening. Instead, St. Louis (36-32-9) lost its fifth in a row.

The Kings didn’t wait long to get started Saturday.

Bob Kudelski got the first goal from the slot 1:29 into the first period after taking a pass from Todd Elik. From about 30 feet out, Kudelski fired, the puck sailing over goalie Curtis Joseph’s stick and barely inside the right post.

One shot, one goal.

The Kings didn’t take another shot for nearly a minute, but when they did, they again got results.

Mike Krushelnyski backhanded the puck out from behind the net to Mike Allison in the slot.

Allison tried to backhand the puck into the net. Joseph fell on his knees and smothered it. But the puck kicked out to the right side where a waiting Krushelnyski put it in at 2:25 for his 16th goal.

Three shots, two goals.

The Kings increased their lead at 9:59 on the power play. Marty McSorley scored off a pass from Chris Kontos, recalled earlier this week from New Haven. McSorley’s shot, from the top of the right circle, resulted in his second power-play goal of the season.

The Kings’ final first-period goal was scored by Luc Robitaille, also on a power play. Robitaille got it at 15:27, shooting from a difficult angle on the right boards.

It was too difficult for Joseph, who then gave way to Vincent Riendeau in the net after surrendering four goals on seven shots.

St. Louis got back in the game on the first two goals by MacLean, who wound up with a hat trick.

The first came at 18:28 of the first period, MacLean putting in a rebound from the left crease.

He added his second at 12:32 of the second period.

Then the Kings pulled away as McSorley scored his second of the night and 15th of the season. Robitaille and Kudelski also added their second each of the evening, giving Robitaille a club-leading 49 for the season and Kudelski 23. Elik, with his eighth and Tomas Sandstrom with his 30th, closed out the scoring.

“Everybody wants to score a few goals, even us plumbers,� said McSorley, known more for ferocity than finesse. “I’m not saying it viciously. Every team needs a plumber.�

King Notes

Wayne Gretzky, still in pain, may test his tender back in practice Tuesday. Until then, no decision on his return will be made. At this point, with the playoffs only a week away, there is no reason to rush him back for the four remaining regular-season games. “Alan (Kerr) hit me from behind,� Gretzky said, “and I fell into Kenny (Baumgartner), who tried to get out of the way. I hurt my back and I also have a little whiplash. I’ve never had anything like this before.�

General Manager Rogie Vachon has been told by league officials that a decision on suspending defenseman Brian Benning for a cross-checking penalty against Jari Kurri in the record-setting brawl with the Edmonton Oilers will not be made until after the season. Benning, who has been sidelined for nearly three weeks after an appendectomy, has resumed practicing and might play this week. Should he receive a suspension, it would not start until the first game of next season.

Also injured are Tom Laidlaw (lower back), Keith Crowder (strained knee), and Ron Scott (bruised lower back). . . . The Kings have increased their roster to 27 by calling up left wing Scott Bjugstad from their New Haven Nighthawk farm club. . . . Fans opposed to the conversion of some King seats into Senate seats have gone public with their displeasure, handing out leaflets Saturday night and calling for a boycott of concession stands.