If the Montreal Canadiens were looking over their shoulders in disbelief last week, they could hardly be blamed. With an undefeated streak stretching through 21 gameslongest in the team's proud historythe Canadiens had every reason to assume that the nearest challenger in their N.H.L. division was far behind in a shower of ice chips. Not so. The upstart Los Angeles Kings, previously one of the league's most feckless losers, were within a thin one point of the streaking Canadiens.
Much of the credit for the Kings' elevation from ice follies clown to league tough guy belongs to Goaltender Rogatien Vachon, 29. With...