What we learned from the Ducks’ 3-2 win over the Devils

Plod. Muddle. Push. All the descriptions were apt when the New Jersey Devils came to Honda Center on Thursday. A muddled game that featured 75 faceoffs was won by Ryan Kesler’s goal in his workspace — the blue paint, with 3:40 remaining to give the Ducks their fourth straight home win.

Here’s what we learned:

Kesler is Mr. November

His seventh goal of the month tied a career-high for November, and there’s still five games to play. Kesler remains, at 32, a workhorse at both ends of the ice. He won 21 faceoffs and played more than three minutes each shorthanded and on the power play.

Five of Kesler’s goals are on the power play, and he said it’s been a matter of hard work and fortunate play.

“I think a couple were just Johnny-on-the-spot, and the other [goals were] just bearing down, getting chances and putting it in the back of the net,” Kesler said.

Ryan Getzlaf was at his playmaking best

Getzlaf wove through the Devils’ defense most of the game. He set up the Ducks’ best chance in the first period when he spotted Corey Perry in the slot for a wide-open look. His assist came on the tying goal, a spin move away from a defender to pass the puck to Rickard Rakell.

“He’s a good player, a very good player,” Devils defenseman Andy Greene said. “We’ve got to be a little bit tighter there and keep them inside, in front of us, and go from there.”

Getzlaf’s 14 assists are tied with Edmonton’s Connor McDavid for first in the NHL.

Logan Shaw might be here sooner than expected

The Ducks went down to 11 forwards when Joseph Cramarossa collided with Rakell and left the game in the first period. There was no immediate update, but if Cramarossa is unavailable the newly acquired Logan Shaw could be recalled.

Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle wasn’t overly familiar with Shaw but said he can play center or right wing and likes his size at 6-foot-3, 202 pounds. He was traded by the Florida Panthers for Michael Sgarbossa on Wednesday.