Kariya Not Ready to Put His Foot Down

Paul Kariya gingerly stepped on the ice to test his bruised right foot Saturday. After 30 minutes of skating and light drills, he left with no better idea when he will return to the lineup.

Kariya ruled out playing tonight against Nashville and was unsure whether he would be back Wednesday when the Ducks face the New York Rangers.

“It’s day-to-day,” said Kariya, who has missed six consecutive games. “I’ve been trying to get the range of motion back in my ankle and calf. They got stiff wearing that moon boot for a while. The foot feels a little tender.”

For the Ducks, who are wallowing in 10th place, four points out of a playoff spot, the need for Kariya is obvious. He is one of the league’s top scorers and his presence draws attention from Teemu Selanne, who has been swarmed by defenders since Kariya’s injury.

But Kariya and the Ducks are cautious not to rush him back into the lineup.

“We can’t put a date on his return,” Duck Coach Craig Hartsburg said. “Every day we have to evaluate Paul. But it is a good sign that he’s back on the ice.”

Hartsburg was more sure about defenseman Niclas Havelid, who practiced Saturday for the first time since suffering a broken right middle finger on Jan. 15.

“He’ll need at least a good week of practices before we can throw him back in,” Hartsburg said.

*

Hartsburg held a team meeting before Saturday’s practice.

“You don’t need to tell people how important every game is now, but some times you have to remind people,” Selanne said.

The Ducks have 16 games remaining, six against the Kings, San Jose and Colorado, three teams immediately ahead of them in the standings.

“Those are four-point games,” Kariya said. “We have to win those.”

TONIGHT

vs. Nashville, 5

Channel 9

* Site--Arrowhead Pond.

* Radio--XTRA (690).

* Records--Ducks 27-29-10-1, Nashville 22-37-6-6.

* Record vs. Predators--1-0.

* Update--The Ducks said they will try to forget Friday’s 4-1 loss to Calgary. “It’s like when you’re in a playoff series,” Hartsburg said. “You lose a game, you have about 48 hours to get over it and regroup and get yourself excited about the next one.” The Ducks do catch a break, as this will be the fourth game in six days for Nashville.

* Tickets--(714) 740-2000.