Notes on a Scorecard - June 7, 1993

It is time for someone west of Quebec to give a little credit to the team that is ahead in the Stanley Cup finals. . . .

The Kings easily could be 3-0 or 2-1, people around here keep saying. But it is 2-1, Montreal, and there are some very good reasons for that. . . .

Sure, the Kings showed gumption by storming back from three goals down to pull even in the second period Saturday night at the Forum. . . .

But the Canadiens accomplished one of the toughest feats in sports, regaining their composure to win in a hostile environment after blowing a big lead in a championship series game. . . .

Sure, the Kings were hard-luck losers in overtime Thursday at Montreal after Marty McSorley’s stick was ruled illegal and the Canadiens were able to assume a two-man advantage with 1:45 left in regulation. . . .

But recognize Coach Jacques Demers for making a smart move and salute the Canadiens for scoring with their two-man advantage, something the Kings were unable to do earlier that night. . . .

There has been considerable moaning about the officiating and how the referees are being influenced by the Canadien mystique. . . .

The fact is that the Kings have had more power-play opportunities than the Canadiens in each of the three games. Smart and energetic penalty killing might have something to do with the Kings’ inability to score on their last 15 power plays. . . .

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If you examine the 1992-93 Canadiens’ roster it is a virtual “who’s that?” of the proudest franchise on the continent. . . .

Goaltender Patrick Roy is headed to the Hall of Fame. But Muller, Keane, LeClair, Carbonneau, Bellows, Damphousse, Schneider, Desjardins, Dionne, and Daigneault are not going to be confused with Lafleur, Cournoyer, Lemaire, Shutt, Gainey, Robinson, Savard, Lapointe, Jarvis and Larouche of 1979 or Maurice and Henri Richard, Beliveau, Geoffrion, Moore, Johnson, Harvey and Provost of 1959. . . .

Only in work ethic and heart does Demers’ team match up well with those of Scotty Bowman or Toe Blake. . . .

Countless complaints were registered in the press box by fans who wanted to buy a souvenir program at the first Stanley Cup game ever in California and were told none were left. . . .

Montreal Gazette Sports Editor Red Fisher: “Barry Melrose has the best lines in hockey and I’m not talking about the ones on the ice.”. . . .

Sitting rinkside next to King owner Bruce McNall was Mighty Duck owner Michael Eisner. . .

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These are Tom Lasorda’s kind of Dodgers. . . .

The younger personnel are showing nearly as much enthusiasm as the 65-year-old manager. I can’t remember seeing a more animated dugout at Dodger Stadium. Hugs, high-fives and even old-fashioned handshakes are the order of the day. . . .

Lasorda’s favorite tactic is the hit-and-run and the Dodgers have executed it better than ever the last couple of weeks. . . .

I like George Foreman to knock out Tommy Morrison tonight in Las Vegas. Both can punch. It will be a war while it lasts. But many fights are won by the heavyweight with the better chin. . . .

Tickets are still available for the dinner and auction after the fourth annual Jerry Buss celebrity golf tournament tonight at the Riviera Country Club. Proceeds will benefit L.I.F.E., which helps to feed more than 100,000 people a week in Los Angeles County. . . .

It should have been the best of days for racing, Julie Krone riding Colonial Affair to perfection in the Belmont Stakes and becoming the first female jockey to win a Triple Crown race. . . .

This was no fluke. Krone has won several riding titles. She is a remarkable athlete. Unlike other female stars, she competes against males and beats them regularly. . .

But the breakdown and death of Prairie Bayou, who won the Preakness three weeks ago on the day Union City was destroyed, created more negative headlines for a sport that can’t afford them. . . .

Perhaps Saturday will give those who unfairly criticized Union City’s trainer, Wayne Lukas, a better understanding of the dangers of the game. . . .

The better the horse, the harder he or she tries, the greater the risk. . . .

The Chicago Bulls--who know how to win championships, are the better defensive team, and have Michael Jordan--should beat the Phoenix Suns in five games in the NBA finals. . . .

From Wayne Gretzky: “You know you’ve come a long way when you look at the out-of-town scoreboard and there are no scores.”