MIGHTY DUCKS REPORT

WEDNESDAY VS. VANCOUVER

* Starting time: 7:30 p.m.

* Television: Fox Sports West 2

* Radio: XTRA (690 AM)

* Key matchup: The Kariya who plays the best wins? Could be. Paul Kariya and brother Steve face each other for the first time. Paul Kariya has 12 goals and 26 points and Steve Kariya, a rookie, has six goals and 16 points.

* Last season: The teams split four games, two of which were ties.

* About Vancouver: Is this the Canucks or is it their minor league affiliate? Vancouver played five rookies--forwards Kariya, Peter Schaefer, Harold Druken, Artem Chubarov and defenseman Ryan Bonni--in a 3-2 loss to Edmonton Saturday. Kariya and Schaefer (seven goals) have been the best of the lot. Center Andrew Cassels has a six-game scoring streak. Vancouver’s power play is four for 52 in the 14 games.

FRIDAY VS. COLORADO

* Starting time: 7:30 p.m.

* Television: Fox Sports West 2

* Radio: XTRA (690 AM)

* Key: Beating Colorado goalie Patrick Roy. His victory over Vancouver Monday left him two shy of Tony Esposito (423) on the all-time victory list. Roy gets awfully focused when he’s closing in on a milestone.

* Last season: Colorado won three of four.

* About Colorado: The Avalanche is known for its free-wheeling offense, but defense has kept things together this season. That’s partly because of injuries. Centers Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg have missed significant time. Sakic missed seven of nine games before Monday because of a rib cage injury. Forsberg, who had off-season shoulder surgery, returned Nov. 27 and had five points in a victory over the Canadiens. But he has been slowed since by a hip pointer.

SUNDAY VS. ATLANTA

* Starting time: 5 p.m.

* Television: Channel 9

* Radio: XTRA (690 AM)

* Key: Taking the expansion Thrashers seriously. But the Ducks have not taken any opponent lightly this season. Right?

* Last season: This is their first meeting.

* About Atlanta: The Thrashers have won only two road games this season. Both were against the New York Islanders, who have the worst record in the NHL. The Thrasher goalies, Norm Maracle and Scott Langkow, ranked last in the league in goals-against average (3.64) and save percentage (.875) before Monday. A bright spot has been the play of left wing Andrew Brunette, who has 12 goals and 25 points. He has six power-play goals.