Bad Neck Keeps Allison Sidelined

Jason Allison, who has suffered knee, hip and neck injuries this season, said Thursday that the most debilitating of his impairments is a neck strain that probably will keep him sidelined at least through the end of the month.

The earliest he could return to the King lineup, the high-scoring center said, probably would be March 1 against the Atlanta Thrashers.

“And that’s if everything went perfect,” said Allison, who hopes to resume skating late next week in El Segundo, after the Kings have departed on a five-game trip that starts Thursday night against the Philadelphia Flyers.

He said he is suffering from whiplash, having first hurt his neck in a collision with the Oilers’ Mike York on Jan. 16 at Edmonton, in his fourth game back after returning from a second knee injury.

Two games later, he re-injured his neck when he failed in an attempt to hit Keith Carney of the Mighty Ducks, snapping his head back in the effort.

“I know for sure that was a whip,” Allison said. “That was worse.”

Two games later, he was injured again when he fell Jan. 25 against the New Jersey Devils.

“That was worse than the two times before that,” he said. He hasn’t played since.

After returning to the lineup only 5 1/2 weeks after his first knee injury, which was expected to sideline him for eight to 12 weeks, Allison has been advised to be more cautious and deliberate this time, and he is following orders.

“It’s the doctor’s call right now,” he said of his eventual return.

All of his injuries, Allison said, are related. “It’s easier to hurt yourself when other things are hurt,” he said. “You play differently. It’s tough.”