Marc Crawford

Practice didn't necessarily translate into perfect play for the Kings over the weekend, but the result was two consecutive victories for only the second time this season. The Kings rallied for three goals in the third period Saturday to defeat host Colorado. Then they flew to Chicago and played in front of 21,715, the largest crowd to attend a Blackhawks game in six years, and again were strong at the end, scoring in the final period and in overtime for a 3-2 victory.

If their 3-0 loss Tuesday night against the Detroit Red Wings wasn't enough of a measuring stick, the Kings will get another chance to compare themselves to a Stanley Cup contender tonight when they play host to the Ducks at Staples Center. "That should put some pressure on us," Kings defenseman Brad Stuart said.

Todd Bertuzzi went on the legal offensive to defend his actions in the 2004 on-ice attack against Colorado's Steve Moore, alleging his then-coach Marc Crawford should be held partially responsible for the incident. Bertuzzi, formerly with the Vancouver Canucks and now with the Ducks, filed what is called a third-party notice in Ontario Superior Court in Canada. He has not sued Crawford, as some reports have suggested. Crawford now coaches the Kings.

Clever timing by the Kings to announce they had dumped Coach Marc Crawford the same day another Staples Center tenant -- bunch of tall guys, a well-managed franchise with 14 championship banners -- was about to play the third game of its league finals. Unlike the Lakers, the Kings don't know much about winning titles. They had that runner-up finish in 1993 and, um, well, they'll always have 1993. And the Miracle on Manchester.

In a meeting with Kings officials on April 30, the opening question was directed at Dean Lombardi, president and general manager, and it was about the future of his man behind the bench, Marc Crawford. Lombardi responded by saying Crawford was the coach "right now." Apparently, right now was just that. The shelf-life of right now barely extended into June, and didn't even reach the upcoming NHL entry draft.

Fired Kings coach Marc Crawford acknowledged that there were "difficult meetings" at the end of the season with his boss, General Manager Dean Lombardi, an obvious byproduct of a highly disappointing showing on the ice. Still, Crawford thought they had moved past those concerns. "I was wrong," Crawford said in a telephone interview with The Times on Wednesday. That was brought home when Lombardi informed a stunned Crawford on Tuesday that he would not be returning for a third season behind the Kings' bench.

As I sort through endless mailings asking me to purchase Kings season tickets, I have three questions for the organization: 1. If Marc Crawford is the wrong coach for the Kings, why did it take two months past season's end to realize this? 2. Knowing the Kings were going to build with youth two years ago, why didn't someone figure out Crawford was the wrong guy then? 3. With the same leadership that hired Crawford, why should I expect their next coaching hire to be any better?

Patrick O'Sullivan's reentry into the NHL is off to a better start than his first go-round. O'Sullivan, acquired in a draft-day trade that sent Pavol Demitra to the Minnesota Wild, was recalled last Thursday and produced two goals in his first two games back. "He seems much more committed to playing the game at an NHL level," Coach Marc Crawford said. "His ability to stay on the play, to win one-on-one battles has been better. It was never a question of his ability."

CALGARY -- The questions posed in El Segundo probably will be following Kings defenseman Rob Blake to Canada here for the start of a two-game trip, and will probably be even edgier and to the point. Uh, Rob, what about that minus-nine, worst in the NHL? Bring in Coach Marc Crawford for the defense. He was asked whether there would be a message sent to Blake, the way it was to under-performing Ladislav Nagy, made a healthy scratch against Minnesota.