Kariya’s Play Raises Eyebrows as Ducks Skate Past Canucks

The Mighty Ducks are noticing something new about the flair of Paul Kariya.

It appears to be contagious.

The Ducks were making crisp passes Sunday, their scoring chances practically came in flurries, and a power play that was the worst in the NHL last season produced some excitement.

“Just by watching in practice every day, you can see guys trying new things that Paul does,” said center Bob Corkum, who had a goal and an assist in the Ducks’ 4-1 exhibition victory over Vancouver. “(But) we all have our own roles. We’re all not Paul Kariya out there, that’s for sure.”

Kariya gave the 16,604 at The Pond its first look at his playmaking skill, beginning with a shorthanded goal 3:27 into the game.

Anatoli Semenov’s breakout pass from the Ducks’ defensive zone found Kariya well ahead of the play, and after a little hesitation move, he beat goalie Mike Fountain with a forehand shot.

“I went down and for the first time in my life, I think I had my head up,” said Kariya, who has two goals and an assist in three exhibition games.

“That was a big goal, it got us going,” Corkum said. “We were sort of stuck in our own end for a few minutes and then all of a sudden Paul is heading down ice. I can tell you, there aren’t too many guys in the league who are as good as he is right now. He’s really incredible, and he’s only going to get better. That’s the scary thing.”

With the addition of rookies Kariya and Valeri Karpov, the Ducks have some returning players battling to make the team. Two of them, Peter Douris and John Lilley, had strong games, both contributing a goal and an assist. Lilley, a winger who played for the U.S. Olympic team before catching on with the Ducks late last season, just about has a job locked up, Coach Ron Wilson said.

“He’s going from being on the bubble to popping the bubble,” Wilson said.

Lilley enjoys watching Kariya, Semenov and Karpov, but said he’s not going to get confused.

“Those three are great players,” he said. “Guys like myself, I have to play my style. I’m not going to be effective if I try to do what they do.”

Kariya’s effect on the rest of the team is clear to Wilson.

“It’s sort of different from watching us play last year,” he said. “A lot of guys are trying to do things that last year they wouldn’t try to do,” he said. “That’s positive. (But) you still have to understand what your limitations are.”