Kariya Poised for All-Star Spot

Paul Kariya has moved into position to start the NHL All-Star game for a second year in a row with the league’s announcement of the latest Western Conference voting totals.

Voting for the Jan. 18 game at San Jose Arena ended Sunday, but final results won’t be announced until Dec. 27 for the Western Conference and Dec. 30 for the Eastern Conference.

Kariya has 10 goals and 25 points, even though he missed 13 games because of injury. He moved into second place among wingers with 127,024 votes, passing Vancouver’s Pavel Bure at 121,297. Brett Hull of St. Louis leads with 145,830, and the top two start.

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The Hartford Whalers have told Gov. John Rowland in a report they will leave unless Connecticut taxpayers build them a new $240-million arena.

The Whalers also want all of the operating revenue in order to compete financially with large-market teams. Team officials said the report is not a final demand but rather is designed to open a dialogue with the governor.

Rowland has made it clear he opposes the Whalers’ proposal but has instructed his staff to continue talks with them, said Dean Pagani, a Rowland spokesman.

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Buffalo Sabre backup goaltender Andre Trefilov will undergo arthroscopic surgery for a muscle tear in his right shoulder and will be out for six to eight weeks.