United they stand - again/ Selanne, Kariya share spotlight in

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Sep 17, 2003 | by DAN WOLKEN

DENVER - Together again. For Paul Kariya and Teemu Selanne on Tuesday, it felt so good to be together again.

Forget for a moment that the Colorado Avalanche's Burgundy and White scrimmage was a meaningless exhibition. Forget that half the players participating at University of Denver's Magness Arena won't sniff the NHL this year.

Kariya and Selanne made Colorado's typically forgettable intrasquad game something special. On their first night wearing Avalanche sweaters, Selanne poured in a hat trick and Kariya had two goals in the Burgundy's 6-3 victory.

"They've had big smiles on their faces since they got to camp," coach Tony Granato said. "I think they had a lot of fun together."

Kariya and Selanne came to Colorado as a package free-agent deal, both taking pay cuts for a shot at the Stanley Cup. Despite being separated for two-plus seasons, it appears they haven't lost any of the chemistry they developed as All-Star linemates in Anaheim from 1996-2001.

Exhibit A: The no-look drop pass from Selanne to Kariya, who cranked a shot past Phil Sauve from the left circle for a 2-0 lead midway through the first period.

"I know exactly what he's doing all the time," Selanne said. "I have a feeling we're going to have a lot of fun this year."

Said Kariya: "It clicks right away. When you play five years together, it doesn't take long to get back in the swing of things."

There was a third member of the Kariya-Selanne scoring machine, but it wasn't Joe Sakic, who will likely center them this season.

It was first-year defenseman John-Michael Liles, who led Michigan State in scoring the past two seasons. Flashing the offensive instincts that made him an elite college player, Liles assisted on three goals and may have gotten in the mix for an NHL roster spot.

Liles didn't merely pick up assists on the backs of Kariya and Selanne. Two of his blueline shots were deflected for goals, and he created another by pinching in and feeding Selanne for an easy tap- in.

"Once I got over the initial jitters at the beginning there . .. it was awesome," Liles said. "It's not hard when you're giving the puck to guys like that. They're burying it pretty much every opportunity they get."

Etc.

Rob Blake, Chris McAllister, Jordan Krestanovich and Milan Hejduk also scored goals. . . . No. 1 goaltender David Aebischer played the first period for the Burgundy team and stopped all four shots he faced. . . . Bruce Richardson and D.J. Smith fought in the first period. . . . DU officials reported less than 70 noshows for the game, which was sold out.

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