Courtnall in Land of 1,000 Games

It began just after he came back from playing for Canada in the 1984 Winter Olympics at Sarajevo. He was 18 and Toronto called him up from Victoria to play his first NHL game.

“I was sooooooo young,” Russ Courtnall, now 33, said.

When the puck dropped Wednesday night at Phoenix, Courtnall had played in game No. 1,000, the third King to do so this season--the others were Doug Bodger and Garry Galley--and, perhaps, the one most concerned about it.

“I’m excited to get it over with,” said Courtnall, who joins brother Geoff in the 1,000 Club, which has 135 members, but only one brother act.

“He called me [Tuesday] night to say, ‘Don’t pass me.’ ”

Geoff has played in 1,039, but has been sidelined much of the season in St. Louis while he struggles with post-concussion syndrome.

“When I got injured [a broken ankle on Nov. 18] with nine games [to 1,000], I was wondering,” Russ Courtnall said.

Now that he has done it, he can reminisce about teammates with the Maple Leafs, Montreal, Minnesota, Dallas, Vancouver, the New York Rangers and Kings.

For instance, “Three of our four coaches, I’ve played with,” Courtnall said.

That would be Coach Larry Robinson and assistant Rick Green, with Montreal; and assistant coach Don Edwards, with Toronto.

Next up in the 1,000 Club for the Kings is Ray Ferraro, who on Wednesday played in his 991st NHL game.

TONIGHT vs. Philadelphia, 7:30

Fox Sports West

* Site--Great Western Forum.

* Radio--KRLA (1110).

* Records--Kings 19-29-4, Flyers 28-11-12.

* Record vs. Flyers--0-1.

* Update--Philadelphia is 16-2-7 in its last 25 games and, despite a 5-4 loss to the Ducks on Wednesday, is 11-1-4 against Western Conference teams.

* Tickets--(888) 546-4752.