Kariya Likely to Play Wednesday

Paul Kariya probably will make his season debut Wednesday against the Vancouver Canucks.

“I’m just assuming he’s going to play,” Coach Ron Wilson said. “I’m pretty sure he is.”

Kariya has been practicing since Saturday but hasn’t played since the World Championships in May because of an abdominal injury.

He can’t solve all the Ducks’ problems, but after seven consecutive losses, the team is desperately hoping he will turn things around.

“It’s a dismal time,” left wing Garry Valk said. “But guys see that Paul’s going to be back and it gives everybody confidence.”

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Mikhail Shtalenkov will start in goal Wednesday, replacing Guy Hebert, who is 0-6-2 with a 4.23 goals-against average and an .874 save percentage.

Shtalenkov is 1-2 with a 2.05 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. He shut out Chicago Oct. 9 in the team’s only victory.

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Right wing Valeri Karpov has been put on injured reserve because of post-concussion syndrome resulting from a hit Thursday by Hartford’s Steven Rice. The team also assigned right wing Barry Nieckar to the Long Beach Ice Dogs and recalled left wing Jeremy Stevenson from minor league affiliate Baltimore.