Brown May Play for U.S. Junior Team

ATLANTA —  Rookie Dustin Brown, whose physical play has drawn favorable comparisons to Adam Deadmarsh from Coach Andy Murray, could be loaned to the U.S. junior team for the upcoming world championships in Finland, a slight shift in the Kings’ stance on the issue.

Brown has been out since sustaining a severely sprained ankle Nov. 29 against the Chicago Blackhawks but could make the trip to Finland next week with the rest of the U.S. team if he is healthy enough.

The Kings said in October that Brown would probably not be making the trip, but General Manager Dave Taylor said Wednesday it is now a possibility. The world juniors could be a chance for increased playing time for Brown, who has played more than 11 minutes only three times in his last 13 games with the Kings.

“We’re staying in touch with Team USA, but right now we don’t know,” Taylor said. “The latest report was that he’s got pain in three areas of his ankle and is not skating. They haven’t ruled him out and we haven’t ruled him out at this point.”

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Jason Allison has received 4,094 votes for the Feb. 8 All-Star game, 10th among Western Conference centers, despite being out since January because of whiplash.

Ziggy Palffy is 11th among West wingers with 14,410 votes and Roman Cechmanek is seventh among goaltenders with 9,170 votes.

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TONIGHT

Kings vs. Nashville, 5 PST, FSN

Site -- Gaylord Entertainment Center.

Radio -- KSPN (710).

Records -- Kings 14-10-1-3, Predators 14-11-1.

Record vs. Predators -- 1-0-0.

Update -- The Kings breezed by Nashville in a 3-0 victory Nov. 19, but the Predators recently embarked on a six-game winning streak and were four games above .500 for the first time in the franchise’s six-year existence.