Goal could be turning point

If the Ducks string together another successful run in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Scott Niedermayer’s second-period goal last week at Uniondale, N.Y., could prove to be the impetus.

The goal ended the most frustrating stretch of the season for Anaheim, an eight-period, one-overtime scoreless streak. Since then, the Ducks have won five straight.

“Once we scored the first goal, it seemed like there was a lot of relief that came over our group,” Coach Randy Carlyle said Thursday after practice. “At some point, you can always look back on those things and say, ‘Well, why did it take so long?’ or ‘Why did that one thing turn the corner?’ . . . You never ever have the answer to that.”

The scoreless streak was the low point of a six-game losing streak that began Jan. 20 with a 5-2 loss at Dallas.

“You’re playing against teams that are desperate to get points and we weren’t as desperate as they were,” goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere said. “There’s no reason for that, because it’s not like we were in a great position ourselves. . . . We discovered we needed to play a desperate type of hockey, a playoff type of hockey.”

That attitude seemed to appear shortly after Niedermayer’s goal, which came in a 3-0 victory against the Islanders.

Anaheim’s newfound determination will be tested tonight against visiting Dallas, which is four points ahead of the Ducks in the Pacific Division. Dallas is 4-1-0 against the Ducks this season, mainly because it has played with more intensity, Carlyle said.

“They’ve kind of taken it to us,” forward Corey Perry said. “We know what’s at stake, we’re four points behind them in the standings and they’re the team to catch right now.”

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With center Doug Weight sidelined with a shoulder injury, Carlyle said he’ll probably choose Ryan Carter, Brian Sutherby or Todd Marchant as a replacement on the second line with Todd Bertuzzi and Teemu Selanne.

“We have interchangeable parts,” Carlyle said. “We’ll make a decision based on who’s going to give us the best chance at success in that game.”

TONIGHT

vs. Dallas, 7, Prime

Site -- Honda Center.

Radio -- 830.

Records -- Ducks 32-22-7, Stars 35-21-5.

Record vs. Stars -- 1-4-0.

Update -- The Stars had won a franchise-record seven games in a row before a 5-2 loss to Phoenix on Thursday. Dallas goalie Marty Turco is one victory shy of 200 for his career.

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dan.arritt@latimes.com