GOAL NEAR KINGS' ALLISON HAS BEST PRACTICE IN LONG TIME; RETURN NOW IN SIGHT.

Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - Jason Allison was standing in front of the net and, after a puck sailed past, left wing Jon Sim playfully punched him and tapped him with his stick.

It was a sign of respect and a sign that things, however slowly, are returning to normal for Allison. The center's play in practice Monday, perhaps his most vigorous workout in months, suggested as much.

Allison has been suffering since a whiplash incident in January and has been in rehabilitation mode ever since. He still was wearing the white, no-contact jersey, but he was skating alongside his teammates nonetheless.

Whether that translates into a return anytime soon, no one knows. Even Allison, who still is dealing with post-traumatic migraine symptoms, refrains from setting a timetable. But he sounded cautiously optimistic Monday.

``I've said to the trainers, 'I'm hoping everything goes great and I keep progressing every day, but I can't look into a crystal ball and say that I'm going to be fine the rest of the way,' '' Allison said. ``I may have an off day here or there.

``It almost makes it easier to deal with when you're skating with the guys, you're getting your timing back and mentally you feel like you're closer to coming back. I haven't been out practicing like that except for maybe 10 times during camp.''

Kings coach Andy Murray sounded a little more hopeful about the prospect of Allison's return. The Kings have had a rash of injuries this season but still are in first place in the Pacific Division.

``(Allison is) off and on,'' Murray said. ``I'm expecting him to be ready to play in two to three weeks. ... For sure, I'm hoping he's back after Christmas.''

Allison made progress last month but suffered a setback - from overdoing it, he said - and had to take a few days off. Then he returned to early-morning skates with other injured players.

It's been a roller-coaster ride for the Kings and Allison. By his own account, the symptoms are less frequent and severe, but he still takes medication. He hopes Monday's practice was the start of something good, but he'll wait before he gets too excited.

``I've gone down that road too many times when I was feeling good and tried to push it too much,'' Allison said. ``I think in a way that could've hindered my recovery.''

Allison, 28, has been out nearly a year, and teammate Adam Deadmarsh (post-concussion symptoms) had the one-year anniversary of his last game Monday. Ian Laperriere, the latest player on the team to go down with a concussion, has been out since Nov. 27.

Still, the Kings have found a way to win thanks to a combination of savvy veterans Ziggy Palffy, Luc Robitaille and Jozef Stumpel and surprising contributions from young players such as Michael Cammalleri and Alexander Frolov.

``It definitely makes it a little easier to deal with,'' Allison said. ``It's easier and harder in a way. It's easier because you're like, 'Things are going well and when I come back, I'll give them a boost and do some damage in the playoffs.'

``On the flip side, we have a good team and I want to make sure I get back. You don't always get an opportunity to play on teams that can win a Stanley Cup.''

Jill Painter, [phone]

jill.painter(at)dailynews.com

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Jason Allison (41) might return to the Kings' lineup for the first time since January within a matter of weeks, coach Andy Murray said.

Edna T. Simpson/Daily News