Combinations Have Been a Good Value

This is a case where familiarity didn’t breed contempt. It produced goals.

Left wing Mike Leclerc knew where to pass the puck before he spotted teammate Paul Kariya during Wednesday’s come-from-behind victory over Philadelphia. Twice he fed Kariya for goals in the 5-4 victory.

“Paul is notorious for letting you know when he is open,” Leclerc said. “You here this ‘Ya ya ya ya ya’ in a high-pitched little voice and you know it’s him.”

Simple explanations may be too easy for the Ducks’ recent success, but they are scoring more goals than the other team.

The Ducks, offensively challenged much of the season, are averaging 3.7 goals during their season-best six-game winning streak.

“I think the combos are better right now,” Coach Bryan Murray said. “We were juggling everybody around, trying to find somebody to score goals earlier this season. Whatever we tried, it was easy to go to the next combination, simply because of not winning.”

Kariya had a hat trick in Wednesday’s game, but Leclerc and center Andy McDonald created the opportunities. Center Matt Cullen had two goals in the final 42 games last season. Skating with Marty McInnis and German Titov, Cullen has four goals in the last five games.

“There is some solidarity with the lines, guys are getting used to playing with each other,” Leclerc said.

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Kariya’s hat trick came on an important night. Besides being his 500th NHL game, it was the first time his father, T.K. Kariya, had seen him play for the Ducks outside of his hometown of Vancouver, Canada.

“It was a good game,” said T.K. Kariya, who has every game the Ducks have played at Vancouver. “It’s nice to see the team have a good game.”

Like father, like son--understated and team first.

“He’s a real low-key guy,” Paul Kariya said. “I don’t think his pulse rate ever gets above 40.”

T.K. Kariya, a high school math and physical education teacher in Vancouver, retired in June. He traveled to Southern California last week to see his son play in the All-Star game.

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TONIGHT

vs. Carolina, 7:30, FSN2

Site--Arrowhead Pond.

Radio--XTRA (690).

Records--Ducks 20-29-6-3, Hurricanes 23-20-11-5.

Record vs. Hurricanes (2000-01)--0-1-1-0.

Update--Carolina, the Southeast Division leader, is 3-7-6-0 in the last 16 games.

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Chris Foster