MIGHTY DUCK NOTEBOOK : Kariya Hat Trick Helps Ducks to Victory

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

But 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 to beat goalie Blaine Lacher on a breakaway. The third was another beauty, when he sent the puck through defenseman Denis Chervyakov’s legs, then caught up to it and scored as Chervyakov stumbled to the ice behind him.

Old hat?

“No,” Kariya said. “I’d never done that before.”

Only a goal by teammate Bob Corkum prevented Kariya from scoring a natural hat trick. In any case, it was his only three-goal game as a professional, and the only one by the Ducks in any game--official or not--since Terry Yake scored one against the New York Rangers in 1993 in the franchise’s sixth game.

No longer a rookie, Kariya is the Ducks’ returning leading scorer after a 39-point first season. Instead of boarding with a local family this year, Kariya has bought a house in Tustin. And if not yet a veteran, he is playing like one and helping the newest rookie, center Chad Kilger, adjust to the NHL.

Kilger, who has been centering Kariya and Todd Krygier on the first line, assisted on all three of Kariya’s goals and has two goals and four assists in three exhibition games.

Kilger remains unsigned--and nothing with the Ducks is ever official until it’s signed--but club officials and Kilger both say it will happen before the Ducks’ Oct. 9 opener at Winnipeg.

Coach Ron Wilson expects to have five centers and four places in the lineup, but Kilger looks like a good bet.

“It’s hard to think of him not in the lineup,” Wilson said.

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There is a difference in Kariya this year, and it’s partly the result of a little added bulk.

“I’m more confident on the ice, a lot more confident with the puck,” he said. “And I know what to expect.”

Wilson isn’t sure if Kariya has added 10 pounds of muscle or not, but he sees a change in his play.

“Last year at times Paul was a little skittish about impact. Now he’s a lot stronger and he’s not afraid of traffic.”

Kariya says he weighs 172 pounds--really, this time.

“But really if I never gain another pound in my life but keep lifting weights, I think it will be fine,” he said. “I feel stronger and more confident because of lifting weights. It does something for you mentally.”

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Tim Sweeney got to play in a Duck game at The Pond on Friday--something he did only five times all last season when he was a Duck.