Kurri Gets Off to Promising Start

Jari Kurri is off to a quick start as a Duck with two goals in two games after scoring 18 all last season.

Kurri’s career is on the wane at 36, but playing for the Ducks might rejuvenate him. Kurri was no longer a first line player with the Kings and Rangers, but he’s getting all the ice time he could want with the Ducks--plus the chance to play with Teemu Selanne and eventually Paul Kariya.

“I’m not setting any goals for Jari,” Duck Coach Ron Wilson said. “But just in playing on a line with Teemu, things are going to happen for him that maybe didn’t happen last year. He’s obviously going to play an important role on the power play.”

Kurri isn’t likely to score 50 goals again.

“It’s a similar situation to [Wayne] Gretzky. Those guys are getting compared to themselves,” said Kevin Todd, a former King.

Kurri has lost speed and quickness, but some qualities don’t diminish with time.

“Certainly he still has the knowledge,” Wilson said. “And he can still finish, but can he just take the puck by himself, like Paul and Teemu? You can’t expect that from Jari, but he’ll complement those guys as well as anybody in the league.”

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First-round draft pick Ruslan Salei made his debut and was eased in, playing limited shifts under the guidance of veteran defenseman Bobby Dollas. Salei replaced Darren Van Impe in the lineup after Van Impe had a poor game Saturday. . . . Other scratches were Kariya (abdominal injury), Garry Valk (sore left elbow) and Joe Day.