Ducks look like old selves again

Where have these Ducks been?

The confident swagger that accompanied this team in the season’s first three months became nonexistent as injuries and subsequent poor play over a four-week stretch punctured their air of invincibility.

The swagger might be back.

Boosted by the return of three stalwarts to their lineup, the Ducks charged out of the All-Star break Sunday with an emphatic 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars at the Honda Center.

The Ducks played without captain Scott Niedermayer for the first time in his two seasons here because of a stress fracture in his right foot. On this day, Niedermayer was hardly missed.

Andy McDonald scored two goals and fellow All-Star linemate Teemu Selanne added his team-leading 31st goal of the season as the Ducks won for just the third time since Dec. 26 -- the date when players began to drop out of the lineup by the handful.

Ducks center Todd Marchant called it a much-needed dose of “group therapy.” A loss to Calgary nine days ago was their fourth in a row and it capped a 2-7-2 skid heading into the break.

“As a team, we needed it,” Marchant said. “As an organization, we needed it. A lot of individuals needed it. It’s just one small step in the right direction from where we ended. We’ve put that behind us.”

It was no coincidence that the Ducks (31-12-8) were in top form as they welcomed defensemen Chris Pronger and Francois Beauchemin back to the lineup along with goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

All three hadn’t played since late December and each played a big role. Beauchemin assisted on Selanne’s power-play goal, Pronger blocked two shots and won a fight with Dallas rookie Krys Barch and Giguere was solid in making 30 saves.

“I thought all three guys came back in and made a contribution,” Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle said.

“We’re not going to expect that those three players are going to lead us to the promised land in one game.”

After missing the previous nine games because of a broken left foot, Pronger announced his return by pummeling Barch at the end of the first period after the rookie finally goaded him to drop the gloves.

Barch, who also fought Shane O’Brien in his 25 seconds of action, got a game misconduct.

“I really didn’t know what he was doing,” Pronger said. “You got to do what you got to do. If that’s what you got to do, go ahead.

“He was trying to listen to the ref and he was looking at me. I said, ‘What are you going to do? If you want to go, go ahead.’ ”

The tussle was a fitting end to a period in which the Ducks imposed their will. Looking refreshed and energetic from the drop of the puck, they peppered Stars goaltender Marty Turco with 13 shots.

McDonald sneaked one under Turco’s right arm on the short side and then 26 seconds later, Dustin Penner banged in a pass from Marchant for his 17th goal.

“We came out really intense and focused,” McDonald said. “We haven’t had starts like that in the last little while so to come out and play the first 20 minutes that hard, it was a good feeling.”

The only thing that got by Giguere was Jere Lehtinen’s goal off a penalty shot awarded to the winger in the third period. It was the goalie’s first game since injuring his groin on Dec. 26 against San Jose.

“I was seeing the puck real well,” Giguere said. “As the game went on, my legs felt better and better. It was fun to be back. It’s been a long time.”

McDonald immediately got the momentum back when he beat Turco with another short-side goal he banked in off the right post after rushing up ice at full speed. The center, who was an All-Star for the first time, was the fastest skater in the skills competition.

“I guess it’s just one of those nights where I shot the puck and it found its way in,” he said.

Dallas Coach Dave Tippett was critical of his All-Star goalie afterward.

“You’re not going to get the outcome you want unless you get better goaltending,” Tippett said. “Or else, you find a way to beat their goaltender as many times.”

Carlyle said his players played with desperation.

“This was an example tonight of where our players delivered,” Carlyle said.

“This is a starting point for us for the last 32 games of the season. Now we’ve got 31 left and the next one is the most important one.”

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eric.stephens@latimes.com