Veteran Courtnall Regaining His Stamina and Timing

Since signing Nov. 7 as a free agent who hadn’t played for six months, right winger Russ Courtnall has worked his way back into game shape.

Courtnall, who played last season with Vancouver and the New York Rangers, scored his first goal last week in Toronto.

“I’m starting to feel a little better the last couple of games, but unfortunately we haven’t won,” Courtnall said. “[I’m finally] being able to stay on the ice for a whole shift and I’m starting to be able to make the right play at the right time. Sometimes you take that extra second and the play is not there anymore. This league is so fast, you have to be able to make quick decisions. As soon as you start thinking about it, usually the play has gone by.”

Courtnall, who signed a one-year deal with the Kings, has become a regular on the team’s penalty-killing unit, which is something he has done throughout his 15-year NHL career.

“I can definitely play better and produce a lot more, but I’m trying to find my role,” he said. “I’ve been trying to do a good job [of killing penalties] because I’ve been doing that a little bit more regularly.”

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For the second time in the last two weeks, forward Roman Vopat was sent to Fredericton of the American Hockey League. To fill his roster spot, Nathan LaFayette was recalled from Fredericton, where he had five goals and 13 points in 26 games. . . . In cooperation with the state’s Partnership for Responsible Parenting Program, the Kings have donated 150 tickets for Saturday night’s game against Washington at the Forum. They will be distributed to community organizations through the California Mentoring Initiative.