Kariya Captivates With Furious Hat Trick in the Ducks’ Victory

Until Friday, it had been a quiet preseason for the Mighty Ducks’ Paul Kariya--quite a contrast to the hubbub of last year, when 9,000 turned out for a Duck practice, many of them eager for a first look at the rookie.

Kariya raised the decibel level at The Pond of Anaheim on Friday night with a second-period hat trick during the Ducks’ 7-2 exhibition victory over the Boston Bruins, scoring three goals in a span of 7:40.

He scored the first two 24 seconds apart, the second by roofing a shot over goalie Blaine Lacher on a breakaway. The third was another beauty, when he threw the puck around defenseman Denis Chervyakov, then caught up to it and scored as Chervyakov stumbled to the ice behind him.

Kariya, the Ducks’ returning leading scorer after a 39-point first season, is expected to help in the adjustment of new rookie center Chad Kilger, who assisted on all of Kariya’s goals.