With Selanne Gone, Kariya Doing Twice the Work

Because of his accomplishments over the years and the way he approaches the game, the Mighty Ducks’ Paul Kariya gets plenty of respect around the league. Now, he’s getting even more.

“It looks like he is working even harder than he had in the past,” said Edmonton forward Mike Grier, who was matched up against Kariya often in the Ducks’ 3-2 overtime loss to the Oilers on Wednesday night. “I think he’s trying to create more offense by himself without [former Duck] Teemu [Selanne] out there.

“When those two were together, they kind of split the chores and worked off one another.”

Kariya was on the ice for 24 minutes 18 seconds and took three shots but did not score.

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The Ducks recalled defenseman Aris Brimanis from Cincinnati of the American Hockey League to fill an open roster spot. Brimanis, who will join the team today in Vancouver, has appeared in 95 NHL games and will provide some size on the blue line at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds.

TONIGHT

at Vancouver, 7 p.m.

Site--General Motors Place.

Radio--XTRA (690).

Records--Ducks 8-16-3-1; Canucks 11-16-3-0.

Record vs. Canucks--1-0.

Update--The last time the Ducks played Vancouver, they won, 3-1, at Arrowhead Pond on Oct. 21. Anaheim goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 32 saves in that game but has lost his last six starts. Captain Markus Naslund leads Vancouver in scoring with 13 goals and 27 points.