KINGS NOTEBOOK: VISNOVSKY A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

EL SEGUNDO - Dressed in a red jersey and purple socks, Lubomir Visnovsky could have been more fashionable. But as far the Kings are concerned, he looked great.

Visnovsky, who has missed four games because of an eye injury and a possible concussion, participated in a full-contact practice Monday and might be activated for Saturday's game against Phoenix, a move that could give the Kings a huge boost.

As a defenseman and a major contributor on the power play, Visnovsky could help bolster two areas in which the Kings have been severely deficient in recent games.

``Probably where we miss him more than any other place is with puck movement out of our zone,'' coach Andy Murray said. ``He has the ability to clear pucks that doesn't allow the other team to keep the pressure on you. He can move it out a little quicker.''

But there's also the power play. Going into Monday's games, the Kings ranked 22nd among 30 NHL teams on the power play, a steady regression for a team that led the league in that category two seasons ago.

Visnovsky is second on the Kings, behind Ziggy Palffy, with 12 power- play points, and arguably has been the Kings' best overall defenseman this season.

``We would certainly be helping our (playoff) chances if we can improve on special teams,'' Murray said. ``There's a lot of responsibility that comes with the right to play on the power play. You've got a responsibility to play hard, and sometimes we just haven't played hard enough.''

Visnovsky needed five stitches around his right eye after a Dec. 18 incident with Phoenix's Daymond Langkow and complained of light-headedness two days later.

--Not just yet: Ian Laperriere and Esa Pirnes, also out with concussions, have been cleared for full-contact practice, but Murray is holding them out of full-team sessions until the players are closer, in terms of conditioning, to playing in a game.

Both players participated in an earlier skate, as did Visnovsky, Dustin Brown, Derek Armstrong and Brad Norton. Roman Cechmanek and Aaron Miller are not ready to skate, and Jason Allison didn't show for a third consecutive day.

Murray said Armstrong and Norton should be ready to play within 10 days, but no timetable for return has been set for any other injured player.

--What's going on? The Kings, who at one point this season were among the stingiest defensive teams in the league, have allowed 20 goals in their past five games.

Murray points to shaky goaltending as part of the problem, but his intense breakdown of game film also revealed the Kings have struggled in even-man rush situations.

Scoring chances are a given in odd-man situations, but Murray said the Kings have been giving up too many chances, and goals, in 3-on-3 and 4-on-4 rushes.

--Son shines: Brady Murray, the coach's 19-year-old son, scored two goals for the United States on Sunday in a 5-0 victory over Slovakia in a preliminary-round game at the World Junior Championships.

Murray wasn't credited with one of the goals, even though it came on a breakaway.

``I think his mother was a little more upset than he was,'' Andy Murray joked, referring to his wife, Ruth, who traveled to Finland for the tournament.

Rich Hammond, [phone]

rich.hammond(at)dailynews.com

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- Rich Hammond