Kariya Sets Team Records

Seventeen minutes into Sunday’s game, Duck left wing Paul Kariya had matched the Detroit Red Wings shot for shot.

Only a late rally enabled Detroit to win the battle of first-period shots on goal, 12-9.

Kariya’s team record for a single period was merely a warmup for tying his own franchise record for shots in a game with 12.

It might not have happened if Coach Craig Hartsburg hadn’t juggled his power-play units last week, moving Kariya to the left point.

“A lot of it came off power plays,” said Kariya, who assisted on Marty McInnis’ third-period power-play goal. “I was trying to hit the net. Up there [near the blue line], I’m more of a quarterback. My job is to get the shots through to the goalie. The quality of shots is obviously better when I play down low, though.”

Kariya said he hasn’t lobbied Hartsburg to move to a more traditional spot closer to the net on the power play.

“Whatever Craig wants,” said Kariya, who has played the point at times in the past.

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Hartsburg used the same lineup he did in a 2-2 tie Friday against the San Jose Sharks, scratching defensemen Pavel Trnka and Pascal Trepanier and center Matt Cullen.