After Scoring Winner, Kariya Gives Officials a Little Lip

What to do, complain or revel?

Paul Kariya did a little of both Friday night after the Mighty Ducks’ 3-2 overtime victory over the Buffalo Sabres.

Just moments before he beat Buffalo goalie Dominik Hasek for a the game-winner, Kariya had been knocked flat by the stick swung by Sabre left wing Brad May. The result was a cut lip, which later required six stitches, yet no penalty was called.

According to Duck Coach Ron Wilson, referees ruled May hit Kariya while following through on a shot--an explanation that went down about as well as the next drink Kariya tries to sip.

“He has to control his stick,” Kariya said. “He followed through with his stick. The rule is pretty simple. You cut somebody, you get a five-minute major [penalty].”

An angry Kariya had to leave the ice for a moment at a very critical point.

Said Wilson: “I called the team over and I told them that we’re not here to fight with the refs, we’re here to beat Buffalo. It actually worked in our favor. Paul got a little rest and came back fresh.”

Kariya returned after the Sabres’ Mike Wilson received a cross-checking penalty. He scored eight seconds later, with a shot from the blue line that deflected off defenseman Garry Galley.

It certainly lessened the pain, and a little bit of the anger.

“The way everything worked out, I guess I won’t lose any sleep over it,” Kariya said.

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More pain and suffering: Bobby Dollas, who injured his right foot Sunday blocking a shot against Tampa Bay, hobbled through a second game in pain.

“It’s one of the those things you live with,” Dollas said. “In some ways, it’s worse than a major injury. It may not hurt as much and it may not keep you out of games. But the pain is always there and you have to play with it.”

Dollas was held out of practice Wednesday and Thursday. He participated in the morning skate Friday.

But nothing kills the pain like a tying goal. Dollas fired a shot just out of Hasek’s reach with 12 minutes left in regulation Friday.

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Buffalo’s two goals came from an unlikely source, right wing Matthew Barnaby, whose skills don’t exactly fall in the finesse category.

Barnaby entered Friday’s game with 272 penalty minutes, tops in the NHL. It’s hardly new territory, as Barnaby twice racked up more than 400 penalty minutes while playing junior hockey.

But it was Barnaby who provided the offense, scoring in the first and second periods, giving him 10 this season.

Of course, he did practice a little of his specialty, picking up a five-minute penalty for fighting in the second period.

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Wilson will get his first up-close look at the Wayne Gretzky-less Kings Sunday the Pond.

Gretzky was traded to the St. Louis Blues two weeks ago, taking a load off Wilson’s mind for Sunday.

“The thing Wayne would always kill us on was the power play,” Wilson said. “He is the most feared guy in the league when he gets behind the net. He finds a way to create havoc.”

Gretzky has scored 24 points in 15 games against the Ducks, 19 on assists. He had two goals and seven assists this season.

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Duck players will shoot a get-well video for defenseman Milos Holan on Monday before practice. Holan is undergoing treatment for leukemia at City of Hope National Medical Center.

The Ducks recently donated tickets to more than 50 patients, and their families, from the medical center.

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Duck Notes

Duck officials will begin processing playoff Stanley Cup playoff tickets for season-ticket holders.