Three Return but Five Still Injured

Even with Jason Allison, Eric Belanger and Erik Rasmussen back in the lineup Thursday night, the Kings’ injury list still runs five deep:

* Adam Deadmarsh, who leads the club with 13 goals in only 20 games, remains sidelined indefinitely because of post-concussion symptoms. The gritty winger has played in only five games since Nov. 12, none since Dec. 15.

* Tough guy Ken Belanger, whose physical activity has been limited since he suffered a concussion Nov. 5, also remains sidelined indefinitely.

* Aaron Miller, out since Dec. 11 because of a broken left foot, had his cast removed Tuesday but is not expected to play for two more weeks.

* Bryan Smolinski, out of the lineup since suffering a scratched left cornea Dec. 26, is listed as week to week and has resumed practicing but is still waiting for his vision to clear. Surgery is a possibility.

* Enforcer Kip Brennan, who has not played since suffering a bruised right foot when he blocked a shot by Darryl Sydor of the Dallas Stars last Saturday, is expected to be ready to play Saturday night against the St. Louis Blues.

Several teammates have expressed concern about Deadmarsh, who may have suffered two concussions in little more than a month.

The Kings, though, believe that he’ll eventually return.

“I haven’t been given any indication by the doctors that this is potentially career-threatening,” General Manager Dave Taylor said Thursday.

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Roster spots for Allison, Eric Belanger and Rasmussen were cleared by reassigning rookies Michael Cammalleri, Jared Aulin and Jerred Smithson to the Kings’ American Hockey League team at Manchester, N.H.