Notes on a Scorecard - April 22, 1992

The Kings should be OK now that they are going home to Edmonton for the next two games. . . .

Before Game 2 of the King-Oiler series, highlights of the “Miracle on Manchester” were shown on the Forum video board. Good thing the Kings were in their dressing room. They might have gotten depressed. Four of them--Wayne Gretzky, Paul Coffey, Jari Kurri and Charlie Huddy--played for the Oilers that night 10 years ago when they blew a 5-0 lead. Only one, Dave Taylor, played for the Kings. . . .

Edmonton broadcaster Dave Semenko, a former teammate, believes Coffey is skating as well as ever after a series of injuries. . . .

About all the NHL’s all-time highest-scoring defenseman did to help tie the series was score twice on power plays, get two assists and put a game-high seven shots on goal. Besides, Coffey was on the ice for only one of Edmonton’s five goals. . . .

There is room for only 27 penalties on the Forum statistics sheet, so the back of the page had to be used Monday. . . .

The Kings’ first play-by-play announcer, Jiggs McDonald, has been working the series on SportsChannel. . . .

Maybe the Minnesota North Stars have the right idea: Take it easy during the regular season and turn it on during the playoffs. . . .

Sportscaster Larry Kahn made his debut as an official scorer Sunday at Dodger Stadium and was pleasantly surprised that there were no 4-6-3-2-6-4-2-3-4-3 rundowns. . . .

How hard up are teams for pitching? When Les Lancaster was released by the Chicago Cubs, he was contacted by 15 other clubs before signing with the Detroit Tigers. . . .

The quick start of the Pittsburgh Pirates is enhancing Jim Leyland’s reputation as one of the best managers in baseball. . . .

New York Met outfielder Vince Coleman, who has earned his livelihood with his legs, is having hamstring problems again after playing less than half the 1991 season. . . .

Brett Butler will be honored as baseball’s man of the year at the seventh annual Cedars-Sinai Sports Spectacular June 28 at the Beverly Hilton. . . .

The Baltimore Orioles probably will draw more than three million fans to their new ballpark this season. . . .

One of Spike Lee’s prized possessions is a replica of the 1951 New York Giant uniform worn by Willie Mays. . . .

Fans with loyalties split between the two Los Angeles NBA teams won’t need their TV remote controls during the first round of the playoffs. All Laker and Clipper games are scheduled for different days. . . .

Since hiring Larry Brown, the Clippers are 10-11 against teams with winning records and 13-1 against those with losing records. . . .

Look-alikes: David Justice and decathlon world champion Dan O’Brien. . . .

No list of the world’s most remarkable athletes would be complete without Jim Knaub, who won his fourth Boston Marathon wheelchair race Monday in world-record time. The former pole vaulter from Long Beach has set either a course, American or world record in 16 of his last 18 races. . . .

Prince Brian can become a genuine bargain for owner Nick Barbieri this week. The Canadian businessman bought the 3-year-old pacer for $90,000 in January. Saturday night, he will be favored to win the $125,000 first-place purse in the $250,000 Shelly Goudreau Memorial Pace at Los Alamitos. . . .

Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard probably will be available when the Rams draft third on the first round Sunday, but a wide receiver is not among their priorities. . . .

The knock on Houston quarterback David Klingler, whose draft stock has dipped, is that he isn’t a take-charge type. . . .

Make no mistake that Wayne Cook will be the UCLA quarterback next season. His shoulder was sore the first couple of days of spring practice, but now he is displaying a strong arm. . . .

Faculties at Big Ten schools will vote next month on a proposal that would liberalize rules on junior college transfers. . . .

When he retires from coaching, P.J. Carlesimo should become a stand-up comic. . . .

UCLA is among the contenders for the NCAA men’s gymnastics championship this weekend at Lincoln, Neb. . . .

Reggie Johnson of Long Beach will attempt to win the vacated World Boxing Assn. middleweight title against Steve Collins tonight in a bout that will be televised by Showtime on tape delay at 10. . . .

The Olympic Auditorium may be reopened for boxing this summer, but it will never be quite the same without the voice of Jimmy Lennon.