Kariya Stuck in Goal Drought

He leads the NHL in scoring. He has been setting up teammates for goals at a frightening pace. Yet the Mighty Ducks’ Paul Kariya can’t seem to find the net himself, scoring only one goal in his last 15 games.

Kariya has gone nine games since scoring against the Kings on Dec. 13. That goal ended a six-game goal-less streak.

“It will go in,” Coach Craig Hartsburg said. “That is something I’m not even worried about. Until some reporter asked me about it, I didn’t even know he hadn’t scored in a while.”

But Kariya, who has 14 goals this season, was aware.

“I’ve had the opportunities, both in Toronto and Buffalo [last week],” he said. “I had 18 shots and they were not from the point. They were all close in. They have all been good chances. But I haven’t had an ugly goal in a while.”

He did lose a goal in Toronto on Dec. 30. Teemu Selanne was called for being in the crease when Kariya blew a shot past Maple Leaf goalie Curtis Joseph.

“I’ve always said that goals are a magical thing,” Selanne said. “Some days, you have all the chances in the world and don’t score. Some days, you don’t get any chances and score three. Paul is just having some bad luck right now. You can’t change what you’re doing because then you start putting pressure on yourself.”

The Ducks are 3-4-2 since Kariya last scored. They were 2-3-1 during his earlier drought.

Kariya, though, hasn’t been completely silenced. He has been piling up assists, including three in a 7-2 victory over Buffalo on Friday, which is why he leads the league with 47 points.

“I have no problems with the way Paul Kariya has been playing,” Hartsburg said.

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Hartsburg isn’t so pleased with other Ducks, which is why Tuesday’s workout was followed by a lengthy on-ice lecture.

“Part of it is the players don’t understand how good a team they can be,” Hartsburg said. “They are learning this. But there is a price to pay. It’s hard to score in this league. You have to win some battles in front of the net.”

Hartsburg’s exhibits are Kariya and Selanne.

“They are getting whacked and chopped every night, but they get to the net,” Hartsburg said. “We need more guys doing that.”

The return of right wing Tomas Sandstrom should deepen those ranks. Sandstrom, who missed 23 games because of a fractured left wrist, returned Monday against Nashville.

“He’s not very far from being 100%,” Hartsburg said. “You know when he’s ready because he comes to the bench with his helmet on sideways and people are screaming at him from the other bench.”

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Rookie center Johan Davidsson is still slowed by a sprained right ankle and missed practice Tuesday. He said he hopes to skate today but wasn’t sure he would be ready to play against Buffalo tonight.

Tonight vs. Buffalo

7:30, Fox Sports West 2

* Site--Arrowhead Pond.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 14-15-8, Sabres 20-9-5.

* Record vs. Sabres--1-0.

* Update--The Ducks scored seven goals against Sabre goalie Dominik Hasek in a 7-2 victory Friday. There’s not much of a chance for a repeat. Hasek is tops among NHL goalies in victories (19) and shutouts (seven). Buffalo’s Miroslav Satan has scored goals in eight consecutive games. The Ducks stumbled home from a five-game trip after losing to Nashville, 2-1, Monday. This is the beginning of a seven-game homestand. “We need to get some victories before the [Jan. 24] All-Star game,” Kariya said. “This is a very important stretch for us.”