Kariya Is Wilson’s Pick for NHL MVP

If Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne were picking the NHL’s most valuable player, they’d vote for Buffalo goaltender Dominik Hasek.

But Duck Coach Ron Wilson would pick Kariya--who finished the season with 99 points despite missing 13 games because of injuries. The Ducks won only once in the 13 games he didn’t play in but were 35-23-11 when he played.

“My vote would be for Paul Kariya because of the effect he has on every phase of the game, from the power play, to penalty killing, to five on five,” Wilson said. “He plays in every situation, and he plays an enormous amount of minutes, probably more than any forward in the league.”

Kariya plays about 25 minutes a game, and Selanne about 23 1/2--the difference is time killing penalties. Selanne led the Ducks in scoring with 51 goals and 109 points.

“If Paul had played every game, he’d be leading the team in scoring,” Wilson said.

Hasek is the favorite for the Hart Memorial Trophy, given to the player judged “most valuable to his team.” If he wins, he’ll be the first goalie to win since Montreal’s Jacques Plante in 1962.

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Winger Warren Rychel was back in the lineup for the second game in a row after sitting out on a coaches’ decision the previous three. Center Kevin Todd also played, after sitting out the last seven as a healthy scratch. With Rychel and Todd in, Mike Leclerc and Richard Park sat out, as did defenseman Jason Marshall.