Kariya Satisfied With Progress

A day off for the rest of the Mighty Ducks on Tuesday meant another four hours of solitary rehabilitation for Paul Kariya.

“I’m sick of it. I’m not complaining, but I want to be a normal person,” said Kariya, who is working his way back into playing shape. His abdominal muscle injury forced him to withdraw from the World Cup of Hockey.

Kariya has increased his skating to about an hour a day at 60%-70% effort and is continuing his other rehab, but he has been surprised by the soreness in his legs.

“Everything’s so weak,” he said. “It takes time to get back.”

Kariya’s goal is to be ready for the first game of the season, Oct. 5 at Toronto.

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Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr are on the Pittsburgh Penguins’ trip, but there was no word whether either would be in the lineup tonight against the Mighty Ducks in a 7:30 exhibition game at The Pond.

The Ducks, 1-1-2 in exhibition games, and the Penguins played to a 3-3 tie Monday in Portland. The Penguins are 2-2-1 after a 4-2 victory Tuesday over the San Jose Sharks. . . . Left wing Garry Valk’s hyperextended left elbow might keep him out of most of the four remaining exhibition games.