It’s the Height of Investigative Reporting

Two Vancouver reporters set out earlier this season to determine an accurate height for Steve Kariya, Paul’s younger, shorter brother.

So, one stood back a ways while covertly watching his 5-foot-6 1/2 colleague interviewing the Vancouver rookie winger in the dressing room.

The observing reporter judged Kariya to be about an inch shorter than the other reporter.

So, “officially” Steve Kariya is 5-5 1/2 despite being listed at 5-7 in the Vancouver media guide. The NHL Guide and Record Book lists him at 5-9.

The Ducks list Paul Kariya at 5-10, which seems close to the mark.

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As much as Duck Coach Craig Hartsburg wanted defenseman Fredrik Olausson in the lineup Wednesday against the Canucks there was one significant problem.

Hartsburg figured there was no one he could sit out to get Olausson on the ice. The six who played in a 2-1 victory Saturday over the Phoenix Coyotes deserved to stay in the lineup, according to Hartsburg.

“If a guy goes in there and plays well, he should be given another chance to play and contribute,” Hartsburg said.

Olausson, the Ducks’ oldest defenseman at 33, was given another game to rest. Saturday’s game was Olausson’s first this season as a healthy scratch.

“I don’t think, even in the last few days of practice, his energy level hasn’t been great,” Hartsburg said. “Maybe this will get him back on track.”

The Ducks defense pairs Wednesday: Pavel Trnka-Oleg Tverdovsky, Ruslan Salei-Pascal Trepanier and Jason Marshall-Niclas Havelid.

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The results of an MRI exam on center Antti Aalto’s left elbow revealed nothing more than a strained ligament. Aalto is expected to be sidelined “a couple of weeks,” Hartsburg said.