European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 8, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 26 the stars and stripes saturday october 8,19bb Gretzky is great in Kings opener by the associated press Inglewood Calif. The Gretzky Era Holly Wood version began in spectacular fashion thursday night. Hockey s greatest player scored a goal and assisted in three others As the los Angeles King crushed he Detroit redwings 8-2 before the first nil opening game sell out crowd in franchise history Grucky needed just 12 54 to show Why he was Worth Lite reported 115 Mil lion  Kings owner Bruce Mcnall paid for him. With Detroit holding i 1-0 Lead after Sieve Yzerman s goal Gretzky took a pass from Dave Taylor at the Cage of the net and beat  Greg Stefan for inc 584 in goal . Gret by also assisted on two of Luc Fob Viaille s three goals both on Power plays at 18 06 of the first period and at 10 46 of the third. At 18 41 of the second period Gretzky put a pass on the stick of Bobby car Penter who pivoted free of the defense and rocketed a shot past Stefan for a 6-1 los Angeles bulge. The announced audience of 16,005was on its feel when team Captain Tay Lor the first of inc 20 Kings was introduced before the game. The Arena was dark save for a single spotlight that Fol Lowed each player from Inq runway to Center ice. The announcer had Only to say and now and the Arena erupted As Gretzky the familiar "99" on the Back of his Lack and Silver Jersey moved to the Middle of the rink to Greet his new team males. The occasion was after All a hockey game and Gretzky had his Garni face on. He glanced up to the scoreboard Over head As the applause and cheers continued then darted off with the rest of the Kings for a warm up skate. Gretzky carried that intensity into the game and in appeared to infect his team males. The Kings circled Stefan Lik Birds of prey pouncing on every Loose puck and sending the rebounds Back at the net. Taylor Bernic Nicholls and Rob Laille on a breakaway scored in the Sec Ond period before Carpenter s showpiece goal put an emphatic end to the Kings six goal run Gerard Gallant scored at 19 37 tomake in 6-2, but Robitaille then got his third goal and tint Tookey made in b-2 at 12 22 of the third. The first chapter of the Gretzky Story was closed aug. 9 when the seven Lime nil most valuable player was traded to inc Kings by the Edmonton oilers. 1 n other n he openers thursday Bruins 2, Maple Leafs 1 Boston Cam Necly tipped in a pass from Michael the Clvin nine seconds into a third period Power play to Boos Boston Over Toronto. Boston goalie Reggie Lem Lin slopped nil Roundup 17 shots missing on Daniel Marois shot at 2 26 of the first period Marcus s first career goal and the first goal of the 1988 89 season. I would prefer for my own health and welfare that they Aren t All one goal games All year. But i can t put in a Spe Cial order for thai brains coach Terry o Reilly said. Flyers 4, devils 1 Philadelphia Scott Mellanby broke a tie with a Power play goal and Philadelphia beat new Jersey to give Paul Holmgren a Victory in his coaching Dybul. Ron Hextall turned Back 32 Shotas the flyers beat the devils for the first time since March 11,1987. Mellanby lipped a snapshot by Mark Howe Between the pads of goalie Sean Burke at 6 31 of inc second period. Holmgren was named flyers coach june 1 to replace Mike a Conan who was fired. Sabres 3, canadians 2 Buffalo. . Ray Sheppard scored two goals and Rookie Brno Itcague had a Goat and an assist for Buffalo. After Montreal scored the first period s Only goal Hogue and Sheppard connected in the first sin minutes of the mid dle period to give the sabres a Lead they never relinquished. Sheppard had 38 goals last year in his Rookie season. Noral quess whale sri Hartford Conn. Quebec Cen Ter Peter Stastny scored two goals and added two assists and right Wing Anton Stastny collected his 600lh nil Point. Peter Stalny who scored twice in the first period As Quebec look a 3-0 Lead assisted Michel Goulut Al 3 27 of the third period. He also Sci up Jeff Brown empty net Short handed goal with 42 seconds left when Hartford had six skaters to three for Quebec. Goulet also had two assists. Goaltender Bob Mason in his firs Start As a nor Dique stopped 28 shots and recovered from an Elbow to the mask by Hartford defend semen Ulf Samu Cusson with seven minutes remaining. Samuelsson was assessed a five minute major penalty which blunted any Chance fora Hartford comeback. Quebec scored twice out of eight one Man advantage chances whereas the whalers connected Only once in 12 at tempts. Islanders 4, flames 4 Calgary. Alberta goals by Gary Suter Colin Patterson and Joe Nicu Wen Dyk in a 3 34 Span of the third period lined Calgary into a tic with new York. The goals by Sulci and Patterson came within 21 seconds Midway through the third period and fired up the olympic Wayne Gretzky and de Taylor celebrate after the great one s first goal As a King. Saddik Doc crowd of 19,013. Pal Lafontaine scored one goal and added two assists and goalie Kelly Hru Dey made 41 saves for the islanders. Hrudney was particularly outstanding in the second period when the islanders skated 10 a 3-1 Lead. Jets 2, canucks 1 Vancouver British Columbia def Ensman Tippo Numminen score with one minute left in regulation giving Winnipeg a tic with Vancouver. Numminen who got caught Flat footed when Steve Bozek streaked around him to put the canucks up 2-1 Midway through the third lofted a harmless looking wrist shot from the Vancouver Blue line that eluded goalie Kirk Mclean and found inc net just under the Cross bar. Blues 8, North stars 3 Bloomington Minn. Brett Hull scored twice in the first period and Tony Mckigney and Rick mag nor added third period goals Assi. Louis staved off a Minnesota rally. The Victory gave Brian Suiter a successful debut As the St. Louis coach while spoiling the first game of North stars coach Pierre Page. Sutler 32, is the n h l s youngest coach. Hull the son of nil Hall of Famor Bobby Hull put the blues ahead for Good 7 23 into the game scoring on a rebound of his own Power play shot. Hull scored another rebound Power play goal less than six minutes later for a 2-0 Lead after one. Rangers 2, Buck Hawks 2 Chicago Jimmy Waite was at one end of he spectrum and Guy Laflour was Ai inc other when new York and Chicago skated to a tic. Waive 19, made his first appearance in goal for the stack Hawks and the 37 year old Laflour returned to the game he once dominated.11 1 was t surprised but 1 was a Little nervous said Waite who was old by new Blackhawk coach Mike a Conan he would Start in goal thursday morning. I was t surprised because 1 had a Good Camp said Waite who shut out the rangers for the first two periods and then had to make 17 of his 33 stops in a hectic third period in which Ulf Dohlen scored both of new York s goals. I Felt great and at the age of 37, i Don t think i have to prove anything Laflour said. I love the game. Slaying Home for four years was Nice but 1 said to myself Why not give it another shot " a Conan was impressed with Laflour. He played a Strong game said Kee Nan. They be got a player if he can sus Tain that for 80  re eased Conception vows of ploy against reds Cincinnati a infielder Dave Concepcion Given his unconditional release by the Cincinnati reds after 19 years in t going quietly. The 40-year-old former All Star shortstop wants to show the reds he still has a couple of Good years left. I want to play for any other team in the National league West Concepcion told the Cincinnati enquirer thursday from his Home in Man Cay Venezuela. I want to play against reds general manager Mur Ray Cook and manager Pete Rose Concepcion said. I am not old not Loo old like they say i see people older than me playing. Pete Rose was writing himself into the lineup until he was 45 years old Cook delivered the news to Concepcion. Murray called me in tuesday Concepcion said. He told me he would not need my services in Spring  Cook is in Plant City fla., for the reds organizational meetings and could not be reached for comment. Concepcion said he was Given the Choice of announcing his retirement or receiving a release. He chose the release and said he will try to land a Job with another team for the 1989 season. Conception hit just .198 this a car his worst season in the majors. His career average is .267. Captain of the reds since 1983, and a member of the big red machine teams of the 1970s, Concepcion wants to play 20 years in the major leagues. He believes that would help his election to the Hall of Fame. This is sad teammate Ron dealer said. Davey is a great Guy to have on a bal club. He s Good in the clubhouse and he can still play any infield position like a  Concepcion admitted he did t have a Good year. He is recuperating from surgery performed Lale last month on his right shoulder. In the National league Only Larry Bowa played More games Al shortstop 2,222 than Concepcion who played 2,173