Courtnall Expected to Speed Up Attack

Maybe speed kills, but without it you can’t beat Pittsburgh.

The Kings found that out when, without injured Glen Murray, Craig Johnson and Russ Courtnall, they were a step behind the Penguins all night in a 5-1 thumping Saturday.

The three fastest Kings, they are the team’s best hopes against speedy teams such as Pittsburgh. And perhaps Colorado, the opponent tonight at the Great Western Forum.

Courtnall will return after missing more than eight weeks because of a broken ankle but will be in somewhat new surroundings, skating on a line with Olli Jokinen and Luc Robitaille.

“What he’ll add to that line is speed,” Coach Larry Robinson said Monday. “I think that was our chief deficiency the other night. We couldn’t keep up with them.”

Courtnall, who has had nine seasons of 20-plus goals, once scoring 36 for the Minnesota North Stars, has played on a checking line since arriving in Los Angeles last season.

“This will be a different role than the one I’ve had since I’ve been here,” he said. “I’m looking at it as an offensive opportunity for me.”

The Kings are looking at it as a defensive opportunity too, because they see Courtnall taking his speed into the Avalanche zone as a disruptive influence.

“Any time you can add speed to the lineup, it helps,” Robinson said. “Plus, he’s one of our premier penalty killers too.”

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Johnson, who is from St. Paul, on watching his beloved Minnesota Vikings lose to the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC championship Sunday, 30-27:

“I was with some friends from Minnesota, and after the game, three hung themselves and one slit his wrists. I was the only one to make it out alive.”

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Defenseman and power-play quarterback Steve Duchesne, scratched Saturday night because of back spasms, practiced Monday and is probable for tonight.

TONIGHT vs. Colorado

7:30, Fox Sports West

* Site--Great Western Forum.

* Radio--KRLA (1110).

* Records--Kings 16-23-4, Avalanche 20-19-4.

* Record vs. Avalanche--1-0-1.

* Update--Stephane Fiset will be back in goal for the Kings, playing against his old teammates. His counterpart will probably be Patrick Roy, who struggled early but has righted himself and carries a 2.15 goals-against average after shutting out St. Louis on Saturday, 2-0.