Sluggish Start Dooms Kings

The Kings said it was a coincidence that Jason Allison returned to the lineup Thursday night against the Nashville Predators, the worst team in the Western Conference during the season’s first two months.

They said they weren’t looking for a patsy for their top center to line up against in his first game since injuring his right knee Oct. 29 at Atlanta.

And they didn’t find one in the heretofore underachieving Predators, who spoiled a spirited effort by Allison, scoring two goals in the first 18 minutes en route to a 3-2 victory in front of 15,877 at Staples Center.

It didn’t help that Ziggy Palffy was ejected for spearing Martin Erat late in the first period, but by then the Predators already held a 2-0 lead.

“I think we could have played a lot better,” said Allison, who played nearly 22 1/2 minutes, almost 10 in the third period. “They were hungrier at the start of the game, which shouldn’t have happened, especially in our rink.

“That was not an acceptable first period for us.”

A midday examination by team physician Ronald Kvitne cleared Allison to play, but that doesn’t mean Allison is in the lineup to stay.

“What we’re saying right now is, he’s playing tonight,” Coach Andy Murray said before the game. “We don’t know if he’ll play Saturday.”

For the time being, Allison’s status will be reviewed daily, depending on how his knee responds. “Obviously, nothing is 100%,” he said.

Sidelined after a knee-on-knee hit by Andy Sutton of the Thrashers, Allison pushed to get back as soon as possible, believing that a speedy return could be the difference in the Kings’ making the playoffs.

The Kings didn’t seem surprised. General Manager Dave Taylor said former King defenseman Charlie Huddy suffered the same injury in the 1993 playoffs, and played three days later. Murray said Allison wanted to play last week.

“I think it’s great that he’s back,” Murray said of Allison, who originally was expected to be sidelined another three to seven weeks. “Remarkable? I don’t know if I could use that term.”

The Predators, meanwhile, were without their top goaltender, Mike Dunham, sidelined because of a groin strain. They started the game with only four victories, fewest in the league, and only 16 points, fewest in the West. They had lost 11 of 12 one-goal games. But they had shown signs of improvement during a recent 2-2 home stand, highlighted by a 5-2 victory over the Dallas Stars.

And it took them only 2 minutes 33 seconds to score against the Kings, Adam Hall netting a power-play goal on a shot from the right point with Mikko Eloranta in the penalty box for hooking.

At 17:38, Scott Walker scored into an open net after a shot from the left point by Andy Delmore caromed off the stick of King defenseman Mathieu Schneider. With goaltender Felix Potvin out of position, Walker tapped the puck into the net.

It only got worse for the Kings before the first intermission. Palffy was ejected at 19:09, spearing Erat in retaliation for an Erat elbow.

But after a scoreless second period, rookie Michael Cammalleri cut the King deficit to 2-1 early in the third on a shot from the right circle.

Delmore, however, scored a power-play goal on a blast from the blue line, making the score 3-1 with Steve Heinze in the penalty box for high-sticking.

Allison later assisted on a power-play goal by Schneider.