NOTES : Eisner: Comment Is ‘Inappropriate’

Walt Disney Co. chairman Michael Eisner made his first public comments on the contract stalemate between the Ducks and all-star winger Paul Kariya. He had no comment.

It was Eisner who last month delivered a take-it-or-leave-it offer that angered Kariya, according to an NHL source. The tone rather than the offer of $7 million per season is what displeased Kariya and prompted him to consider sitting out the season.

“It would be inappropriate for me to comment. I’m just here to watch the game,” said Eisner, who also plans to attend tonight’s game against the New York Rangers and Thursday’s game at Boston.

“It was a nice win. [Goalie Mikhail] Shtalenkov was fantastic. They are all a really good bunch of guys. I’d like to see them do well. We’re playing .500 hockey, aren’t we?”

*

Center Steve Rucchin, sidelined for eight consecutive games because of a groin strain, had two assists in his return to the lineup.

“It was good to be out there again,” said Rucchin, the team’s top center. “I wasn’t feeling any pain, but we’ll see how it feels [today].”

TONIGHT

at

New York

Rangers

* 4 p.m. PST

Site--Madison Square Garden, New York.

Radio--KRLA (1110).

Records--Ducks 4-4-2, Rangers 3-4-4.

Record vs. Rangers (1996-97 season)--1-1.

Update--Coach Pierre Page asked General Manager Jack Ferreira to recall additional players from Cincinnati to bolster the Ducks’ depth. They have carried 21 players on the roster, three below the NHL limit, since returning from Japan. New York left wing Adam Graves’ streak of 211 consecutive games played, currently the league’s fifth-longest, is in jeopardy because of a sprained right knee. Graves, injured when teammate Tim Sweeney (a former Duck) fell over him Friday, underwent an MRI exam Saturday. Pat LaFontaine, acquired from Buffalo last month, leads the Rangers with seven goals and 11 points.