MIGHTY DUCKS' KARIYA NAMED NHL PLAYER OF THE MONTH
 
Mighty Ducks of Anaheim left wing Paul Kariya on Monday was named
NHL Player of the Month for January -- his first full month of
the season. Kariya, who missed more than two months of the season
over a contract dispute, led all January scorers with 10 goals
and eight assists for 18 points in 13 games and added a
plus-minus rating of plus-10. He was honored as NHL Player of the
Week from Jan. 19-25, recording a season-high five points,
including a hat trick, in an 8-3 win over Florida on Jan. 21. The
following night, Kariya scored the game-winning goal and added
two assists in a 4-3 triumph in Colorado. He finished the week
with a goal and an assist in a 3-3 tie with Los Angeles on Jan.
24. Kariya, 23, opened the month with consecutive two-point games
in a 4-2 win over Tampa Bay and a 3-3 tie with the Panthers. He
leads the league with 1.7 points per game.