Playing the Western Conference’s best usually isn’t at the top of the wish list for a team trying to get into playoff form.
But the Ducks needed an opponent like Dallas and a game like Sunday’s 3-1 win at Honda Center to kick-start the home stretch of the regular season.
Here’s what we learned:
The Ducks got back to their defense.
That had gotten away from Anaheim recently, even though the team remains among the league’s best in goals-against and penalty killing.
The Ducks blocked 22 shots and forced Dallas into 15 missed shots.