Kariya Still Out, Won’t Face Kings

Paul Kariya continues to suffer from dizziness as a result of Sunday’s concussion and will not play today. His fitness for Canada’s opening game in the Olympics next Friday also remains in doubt.

Kariya attended practice Friday, but did not participate. “I think Paul can be outspoken if given the chance,” Duck Coach Pierre Page said, when asked why Kariya hasn’t talked about Gary Suter’s cross-check to the jaw that’s now being viewed around the NHL as a symbol of the unchecked physical abuse against the league’s top skilled players.

“He knows there are different avenues to take. It might be better to have five or six players come out together to talk about it. It will get people’s attention and get the message across.”

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In going 8-1-1 over their last 10 games, the Kings are the hottest team in the NHL. The 17 points they’ve earned is the most by the Kings over a 10-game span since they went 8-1-1 from Feb. 14 to March 5, 1991.

But Coach Larry Robinson still doesn’t think that the Kings are close to playing up to their potential.

“We’re in big trouble when we start feeling good about ourselves,” said Robinson, whose team needs a victory today over the Mighty Ducks to move six games above .500 for the first time since April 10, 1993. “I would much rather have a team that keeps things in perspective. That’s how I think you stay more consistent.”

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The Kings are negotiating to buy about six acres on a vacant lot in El Segundo to build a training center for the team and the Lakers.

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Russ Courtnall has scored five of his seven goals this season against teams that he formerly played for, including two against the New York Rangers on Thursday. . . . Center Jozef Stumpel has quietly moved to eighth among the league’s top scorers with 57 points and his 40 assists rank him fifth. . . . The Kings are now 19-1-1 when they have scored first.

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There will be a ceremony after today’s game to honor the Olympic participants from the Ducks and Kings. Ruslan Salei of the Ducks and Vladimir Tsyplakov of the Kings will play for Belarus. Kariya and Rob Blake (Kings) will play for Canada. Teemu Selanne (Ducks) and Aki Berg (Kings) will play for Finland. Dmitri Mironov and Mikhail Shtalenkov (Ducks) will play for Russia. Stumpel will play for Slovakia.

Tomas Sandstrom (Ducks) and Mattias Norstrom (Kings) will play for Sweden. Guy Hebert will play for Team USA.

Kings at Ducks

* Noon * Channel 11

Site--Arrowhead Pond.

Radio--XTRA (690), KRLA (1110), KCKC (1350), KPLS (830).

Records--Ducks 19-27-9, Kings 25-20-9.

Series--Kings lead, 1-0-1.

Update--This is the last game for each team before the Olympics. The Ducks have a two-game winning streak and are 4-2-1 since the all-star break. Teemu Selanne has either scored or assisted on seven consecutive goals for the Ducks. Guy Hebert has faced 40 or more shots in five consecutive games in goal for the Ducks. The Kings haven’t given up a third-period goal in the last four games. Stephane Fiset is expected to start in goal for the Kings. He has given up only two goals in his last 202:09 minutes.