Kings, Nordiques Stay in Tie After Going Into Overtime, 3-3

DENVER —  In what looked like a replay of their first exhibition game, the Kings played the Quebec Nordiques to a 3-3 tie Wednesday night before a crowd of 12,225 at McNichols Arena.

Kelly Hrudey was back in goal for the Kings for the first time since the exhibition opener at Quebec. That game also went into overtime and ended in a 3-3 tie.

In the overtime Wednesday, the Kings (1-1-2) were unable to capitalize on a power-play opportunity that was cut short when King defenseman Steve Duchesne picked up a five-minute major penalty for clipping Jeff Jackson in the chin with a high stick. The penalty also carried an automatic game misconduct.

The Kings had taken a 3-1 lead in a big second period in which they held the Nordiques to four shots.

Jay Miller beat Quebec goalie Ron Tugnutt on a penalty shot early in the second period, tying the game with the first of three goals in less than two minutes. Miller put the puck between Tugnutt’s pads at 1:49; Petr Prajsler scored on a slapshot from just inside the blue line at 3:06, and Wayne Gretzky scored his first goal of the exhibition season on a breakaway at 3:44.

King Notes

The Kings’ next exhibition game will be Friday night at Edmonton. It will be broadcast on KLAC at 6:30. . . . Barry Beck is nursing a slight groin pull and has not yet played for the Kings. . . . Dave Taylor’s injury has been diagnosed as a pinched nerve in his neck.