Oates Sets It Up, Sykora Finishes It

Right wing Petr Sykora was ready. He had seen too many things this season to be caught napping.

Paul Kariya fired the puck toward the net and Adam Oates, wearing a Vancouver player like a sweater, somehow managed to get his skate on the puck to redirect it.

Sykora, waiting near the post, was there to finish, giving the Ducks their final goal in a 3-1 victory Sunday.

“I’m not surprised by anything Adam does,� Sykora said. “But I don’t know how he did that one tonight, with the defender holding his stick and holding him.�

Oates, sixth in assists in NHL history, and Sykora have been a dangerous tandem.

Sykora has 34 goals, one shy of his career high set in 2000-01 with New Jersey. Oates has assisted on 14 of them.

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Kariya and defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh each had two assists in the victory.

It gave Kariya 53 assists this season, the most he has had since he had 62 in 1998-99, the last time the Ducks made the playoffs.

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A portion of the announced 17,174 in the Arrowhead Pond booed the start of the Canadian national anthem before Sunday’s game against Vancouver, but was quickly shouted down.... Cam Severson, recalled from Cincinnati on Thursday, made his NHL debut Sunday.... Referee Rob Shick worked his 1,000th NHL game.

-- Chris Foster