Kariya Moves Closer to Returning

Optimism about Paul Kariya’s return is increasing, but there’s not yet any official word from the team or Kariya, who is being given final say by management.

“I expect him to be back soon,” Duck Coach Ron Wilson said. “Maybe on the road, maybe the following homestand.”

The Ducks play at home tonight and Sunday before leaving on a two-game trip to the East Coast next week. They return for an eight-game homestand, the longest of the season, beginning Oct. 27.

With only one victory in their first six games, the Ducks are struggling without Kariya, who is in Vancouver rehabilitating a lingering abdominal injury.

Barring a setback, the games Kariya loses to the injury might stop at eight or, more likely, 10. As eagerly as Wilson awaits Kariya’s return, he sees potential for teammates to slack off once Kariya’s playing.

“The good will be that he’s back,” Wilson said. “The bad is you think, ‘Oh, Moses is here. He’ll take us to the Promised Land. I don’t have to do anything and he’ll part the Red Sea.’ ”

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Francois Allaire, the former Montreal goaltending instructor who is the Ducks’ new goalie consultant, has begun familiarizing himself with Guy Hebert and Mikhail Shtalenkov.

“This week I want to watch the guys and talk to them,” Allaire said. “I want to have a good profile of the goalies. Then we’ll be able to go in the right direction instead of me going in one direction when they want to go another.”