Kariya Skates Without Pain

Paul Kariya has cautiously started skating for the first time in six weeks as he continues rehabilitating the abdominal muscle injury that led him to withdraw from the World Cup.

Kariya, a 50-goal scorer last season, won’t practice with the team until later this month but didn’t experience any pain as he began skating on his own, General Manager Jack Ferreira said.

Kariya might play in the final exhibition Sept. 30 at Vancouver, Ferreira said, but the goal is still the first game of the season Oct. 5 at Toronto.

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Tickets to individual Duck games will go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. at the Pond box office and TicketMaster outlets. Wrist bands for random line assignments will be distributed at the Pond from 8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., with sales to fans arriving afterward on a first-come, first-save basis. The parking lot opens at 7 a.m.

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Wayne Gretzky is scheduled to make his Ranger debut Saturday against the Ducks in Las Vegas.