*Vancouver edges Anaheim as NHL makes Japan debut*

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The opening week of the 1997-98 NHL season continued tonight
with the first-ever regular-season game outside of North
America, a 3-2 victory by the Vancouver Canucks over the Mighty
Ducks of Anaheim at Tokyo's Yoyogi Arena. 

The teams will complete their two-game series on Saturday night
(Sunday afternoon in Japan).  NHL players will reconvene in
Nagano, Japan for the Winter Olympics in February. 

Newly anointed captain Mark Messier made his Vancouver debut and
scored a power-play goal to break a second-period tie before
leaving with a charleyhorse.  Messier, who signed as a free agent
on July 28th and was named captain on Wednesday, collided with
Anaheim's Mark Janssens late in the second period and never
returned.  His status for Saturday's game is uncertain. 

All-Star left wing Paul Kariya did not accompany the Ducks on
their trip, while winger Alexander Mogilny is not with the
Canucks.  Both players are unsigned. 

In other season-openers tonight, the New York Islanders skated
to a 2-2 tie with the rival New York Rangers and the New Jersey
Devils posted a 4-3 victory at Tampa Bay. 

There were 10 games scheduled Wednesday on the opening night of
the NHL's 80th season.