DUCKS NOTEBOOK: POND SITE OF INAUGURAL KARIYA-FAMILY REUNION.

Byline: Greg Christensen Staff Writer

A Mighty Ducks-Vancouver Canucks game in early December would normally not register a blip on NHL radar screens. But tonight's game at the Pond won't be just another game between two Western Conference rivals. It will be a family reunion, of sorts.

The brothers Kariya will be playing against each other in an NHL game for the first time. Paul, an established superstar at age 25, against Steve, a 21-year-old rookie who was signed as an undrafted free agent.

``Five years ago if you had asked me if this would happen, I would have said the likelihood would be slim,'' said Paul of playing against his brother at hockey's top level.

In his final years at the University of Maine, Steve Kariya emerged from Paul's shadow into a player with NHL potential. This year with the Canucks he has scored six goals and 16 points in 28 games. He also has a team-high plus-7 rating.

It's enough to make a big brother - who says he never played against Steve in anything other than Ping-Pong - very proud.

``It is one of the greatest things in my life to see him do well,'' Paul said with a wide grin.

It's also enough to make him a little protective.

``He told us he'd kill anybody if they touched him,'' said Teemu Selanne, who said the experience should be a unique one for Kariya, who could be on the ice at the same time as his brother if coaches Craig Hartsburg and Marc Crawford opt to match No. 1 lines.

``I can't imagine playing against my brothers,'' said Selanne, who has two, but played only against his twin, Paavo, when they were 12 and 13 years old. ``I think it's great. It will be different, not just another game.''

Paul admits he and Steve weren't particularly close as kids, but that is changing as the two get older.

``Our relationship has grown over the past two or three years,'' Paul said. ``I moved away from home when I was 15 and didn't get to see a lot of him growing up or playing in minor hockey.

``We are close now. Our lives are going in a similar direction.''

Tuesday night they were planning on going out to dinner - ``Steve's paying,'' joked Paul - and they try to talk to each other when their schedules permit.

It will be a special night for the entire Kariya family, but the only two Kariyas in the Pond will be Paul and Steve. As usual, their parents prefer to remain in the background.

``My parents have never been down to Anaheim to watch Paul,'' Steve told reporters in Vancouver.``They've had four boys go through the University of Maine and never made the trip back there. They're content to stay back and watch the games on television.''

Paul said his younger brother has worked hard to get this far.

``He became a leader and dominant player,'' said Paul. ``Physically he got stronger and with that came a harder shot.''

Like Paul, who is 5-foot-10 and 173 pounds, Steve is small but speedy.

``He's always had the skill; now he has the build to go along with it,'' said Paul of Steve, who stands 5-7 and weighs 170 pounds.

DUCKS vs. VANCOUVER

Time: 7:35 p.m., at the Pond

TV/Radio: Fox Sports Net 2; XTRA-AM (690)

Update: In addition to the matchup of the Kariya brothers, this game features the seventh- and ninth-place teams in the Western Conference. Vancouver could jump back over the Ducks with a victory. The Canucks, hindered by injuries to Mark Messier and Mattis Ohlund, are 2-6-2 in their last 10 games. The Ducks, 3-1-1 in their last five games, will be without checking center Antti Aalto (elbow injury). Anaheim's 27th-ranked power play will get a chance to get going against the Canucks' 28th-ranked penalty-killing unit.

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BOX: Ducks vs. Vancouver (see text)