Winged Team Ripe for the Plucking?

Paul Kariya is out. Teemu Selanne is out. Travis Green is out.

Is this any way to play the defending Stanley Cup champions?

Kariya remains sidelined by post-concussion syndrome. Selanne, sidelined by strained lower abdominal muscles, hopes to play Friday against San Jose. Green, out because of a groin injury, isn’t expected to play until Sunday against Carolina.

Kariya has been silent about the Feb. 1 cross-check in the jaw from Chicago Blackhawk defenseman Gary Suter that injured him, saying only that he didn’t believe Suter is a “cheap-shot artist.”

But Selanne questioned the defensive tactics of teams such as the Blackhawks against him and Kariya.

“I think guys like [defenseman Chris] Chelios play hard and even a little dirty to try to stop you,” Selanne said. “But if they try to deliberately hurt you, then they should just go to that ultimate fighting thing. I know exactly when someone is trying to hurt me. Sometimes I’d like to take karate lessons. When you see Paul or I trying to retaliate you know something is wrong with this game.”

TONIGHT

vs. Detroit

* 7:30

* Fox Sports

West 2

Site--Arrowhead Pond.

Radio--KRLA 1110, KCKC 1350, KPLS 830.

Records--Ducks 20-30-9, Red Wings 33-15-13.

Record vs. Red Wings--0-2.

Update--Without Kariya and Selanne the current lineup looks as punchless as the inaugural one that fell to the Red Wings, 7-2, on opening night, Oct. 8, 1993. The Red Wings are 5-2-3 in their last 10 games, including a 3-1 victory Monday over the Phoenix Coyotes. Detroit leads the all-time series against the Ducks, 11-3-4.