Allison Returns to Boston

Jason Allison is not sure what kind of reception to expect from the fans tonight in FleetCenter when the former Bruin all-star makes his first visit to Boston since the Oct. 24 trade that sent him to the Kings.

But he suspects it will be civil.

“It’s always been pretty good there,” he said, “so it should be all right.”

Allison was the Bruins’ leading scorer in three of his last four seasons and their captain last season.

But after holding out last fall in a contract dispute that turned ugly, he was shipped to the Kings.

Bruin fans should have no quarrel with the trade, which also brought Mikko Eloranta to the Kings and sent former Bruins Glen Murray and Jozef Stumpel back to Boston. The deal has worked out wonderfully for the Bruins, who have won eight of their last 10 games, are 20-9-1-4 since the trade and trail the Toronto Maple Leafs by one point in the race for the best record in the East.

Murray, on pace for the most productive season of his career at the time of the trade, has not slowed since leaving the Kings. He has 19 points and 19 assists in 43 games, 13 goals and 14 assists in 34 games since the trade. Stumpel’s 23 points in 43 games include 19 in 34 games with the Bruins.

The Kings are 15-12-6-1 since the trade. Allison, with 30 points in 34 games, is their leading scorer, but Eloranta has been inconsistent.

TONIGHT

at Boston, 4 PST

Fox Sports Net

Site--FleetCenter.

Radio--KSPN (1110).

Records--Kings 18-16-7-2, Bruins 24-12-3-4.

Record vs. Bruins (2000-01)--1-0-1.

Update--The Kings are unbeaten in their last six games against the Bruins, going 3-0-3 since Oct. 15, 1997, when they lost, 5-3, at the Forum.

Jerry Crowe