Kariya’s Return Boosts Power-Play Unit

The results were dismal again, but at least the Mighty Ducks felt better about their anemic power play.

They failed to score on four power-play opportunities in Wednesday’s 6-3 loss to Vancouver and fell to four for 49 (8.2%) this season.

But with Paul Kariya back in the lineup after sitting out the season’s first 11 games because of an abdominal injury, the power play created several good scoring chances.

“I think it was a huge boost the way the power play played,” said defenseman Fredrik Olausson, who quarterbacks the unit. “It’s a step in the right direction. It’s the first time in a long time we had good puck control and some good chances to score.”

At this point, the Ducks are looking for small victories to bolster their confidence.

“That’s good for the old head when you see that vast improvement on the power play,” Olausson said. “Sooner or later we will win a game. We’ve got to have all the small parts come together [to win].”

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Kariya said he felt no pain or soreness on the day after his 1996-97 debut. . . . Warren Rychel is the only Duck to play more than six games and not be a minus on the plus-minus rating scale. After 12 games, Rychel is even. Teemu Selanne and Steve Rucchin are tied with a team-low minus eight.