New Practice Site in Franchise Plans

Rogie Vachon, vice president of special projects for the Kings, said Thursday that the franchise hopes to secure a site of at least six acres on the Westside for a new practice facility. The Kings currently use Iceoplex in North Hills, but Vachon said the team hopes to have a new facility built--one that also could be used by the Lakers--before the opening of the downtown Staples Center, scheduled for the fall of 1999.

Early this week, the City Council cleared the way for the first step of construction of the Staples Center with the demolition of the Convention Center’s North Hall.

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Center Ray Ferraro did not play against Florida on Thursday because of a lower-back strain suffered during pregame warm-ups. Ferraro is listed as day to day. Dan Bylsma took his place in the lineup.

The Kings’ healthy scratches were defensemen Doug Zmolek and Philippe Boucher and forward Steve McKenna.