Murray Will Decide on Oates After Season

Mighty Duck General Manager Bryan Murray said he would wait until the off-season before deciding whether to pick up the option on Adam Oates’ contract.

Oates, who would make $3.5 million under the terms of the contract, could have earned the option by reaching incentives for points and for the Ducks’ qualifying for the playoffs. The Ducks have qualified for the playoffs, but a broken left hand prevented Oates from reaching the point total, believed to be 78, same as he scored last season.

Oates has 44 points this season but missed 15 games because of the injury. It took a month to play himself into game shape. He has 25 points in the last 33 games.

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The Mighty Ducks conclude their regular season tonight against Colorado, a team they could face in the first round of the playoffs. It would take a minor harmonic convergence, but the Avalanche could win the Northwest Division to become the Western Conference’s third-seeded team.

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Duck officials said that between 1,000 and 2,000 tickets remain for their three first-round home playoff games.

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TONIGHT

vs. Colorado, 7:30, Fox Sports Net 2

Site -- Arrowhead Pond.

Radio -- KPLS (830).

Records -- Ducks 40-27-9-5, Avalanche 40-19-13-8.

Record vs. Colorado -- 3-0.

Update -- The Avalanche can finish first in the Northwest Division if it wins its last two games and Vancouver loses its finale against the Kings on Sunday. The Ducks can clinch sixth place with a victory.

Tickets -- (877) 945-3946.