Courtnall Returns After Missing Two

After missing two games because of a hip injury, wing Russ Courtnall was back in the lineup Thursday night against the Carolina Hurricanes at the Great Western Forum.

Courtnall, who signed a one-year contract with the Kings Nov. 7, had scored five goals in his last five games before being injured in a 7-4 victory at Chicago Feb. 26.

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Center Ray Ferraro, who did not play Monday against Vancouver because of flu, did not dress against the Hurricanes. Defenseman Philippe Boucher and Doug Zmolek were the Kings’ other healthy scratches. Goaltender Stephane Fiset’s groin/hamstring injury, which has forced him to sit out the last two games, worked out at Thursday’s morning skate and might be able to play Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings.

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Michael Roth was named director of communications for the Staples Center. Roth’s responsibilities will include development of marketing for the downtown arena, scheduled to open in the fall of 1999.