No Kariya-Lindros Matchup

The two-game season series with the Flyers is over--without an appearance by either Eric Lindros or Paul Kariya.

Lindros has yet to play this season because of a groin injury. He was examined Monday by specialist William Garrett in Durham, N.C., only the latest of several opinions he has sought.

“I was getting nervous about ‘when,’ ” Lindros told Philadelphia reporters at Tuesday’s morning skate. “He said it was nothing overly serious. It just takes time. It needs time.”

Kariya--who like Lindros was one of 12 players to score more than 100 points last season--has been rehabilitating an abdominal injury and is scheduled to return to Anaheim from Vancouver this week.

His first opportunity to practice with the Ducks will be Saturday, since the team has a scheduled day off Friday after the East Coast trip.

Expecting him to return for Sunday’s game against Calgary at the Pond would be optimistic, but Coach Ron Wilson has expressed confidence Kariya will play during the eight-game home stand.

*

Right wing Roman Oksiuta left the team to be with his wife, Natalie, for the birth of their second child in Edmonton. It’s uncertain if he’ll return before Thursday’s game at Hartford. . . . The Ducks’ healthy scratches Tuesday were Oksiuta, Barry Nieckar, Darren Van Impe and Adrian Plavsic, who was placed on waivers Monday and probably will be assigned to the minors if he goes unclaimed as expected.