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Column: Ducks are embracing a focus on defense this season, and it’s working

Ducks defenseman Clayton Stoner, front, tries to force Colorado forward Jerome Iginla into turning over the puck during the Ducks' 3-2 victory Sunday.
(David Zalubowski / Associated Press)
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How can the Ducks’ 10-3 record be the same as it was through 13 games last season yet be dramatically different?

The answer is their willingness to embrace the concept that defense wins championships in the NHL. For inspiration, all they had to do was watch the Kings use a cohesive defensive effort and the NHL’s lowest goals-against total as a springboard to a Stanley Cup title last season.

Six of the last 10 Cup winners ranked in the top five in goals-against average during the regular season, including each of the last five. That’s powerful motivation for the Ducks’ early emergence as a committed defensive team.

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“Yeah. Who’d have thunk?” Coach Bruce Boudreau said Sunday, after the Ducks ended a trip to Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas and Colorado with a 3-1 record and only five goals against.

“It’s good. I firmly believe that if we can keep them to two goals or under that we’ve got enough offense to win the game.”

They’re scoring less, averaging 2.69 goals per game, compared to 3.15 through their first 13 games last season, but their team goals-against average of 1.85 ranks second in the NHL and is down from the 2.54 they posted through 13 games last season.

They’ve allowed two goals or fewer 10 times, compared with seven times in the first 13 games last season. Their penalty-killing is better, too, operating at a seventh-ranked 86.4%. Their efficiency rate was a 29th-ranked 75.6% at this stage last season.

And in the faceoff circle, with Ryan Kesler and Nate Thompson supporting Ryan Getzlaf, the Ducks have won 53.2% of their faceoffs, up from 49.2% last season. It’s simple but logical: When you win the draw and control the puck, the other team can’t score.

The Ducks’ young, mobile defense is playing a crucial role, but credit also goes to the forwards, who have been coming back to help. That’s important enough to minimize the lack of secondary scoring. The goaltending has been solid, too, with John Gibson and Frederik Andersen pushing each other. Even unlikely starter Jason LaBarbera chipped in with some timely saves against the Avalanche on Sunday, after injuries sidelined Gibson and Andersen. The Ducks were off Monday, and no updates were available on the goalies’ injuries.

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After limiting Dallas to one shot in the second period in a 2-1 overtime victory Friday, the Ducks held Colorado to two shots in the second period Sunday and seven over the final 40 minutes. Players insisted they weren’t consciously trying to be protective of LaBarbera in his first NHL start since last December.

“That’s just the identity we want to have as a team,” defenseman Cam Fowler said. “When we’re doing that, I think we’re up there with one of the hardest teams to play against in the league. We’ve shown that when we can do it, it’s given us success, and we’re just looking for that consistency right now.”

Stars not exactly shining

Dallas’ off-season trade for center Jason Spezza was designed to make the Stars competitive against West rivals who have big, dominant centers. But the Stars — who will play host Tuesday to the Kings — have slipped lately and are 0-2-2 after a 4-1-2 start.

Part of the problem might be Coach Lindy Ruff’s decision to stack his first line with Jamie Benn, Spezza and Tyler Seguin rather than spreading the wealth over two lines. That can be changed. Ruff cited a lack of desperation after his team lost to the Ducks last Friday, and that can’t be manufactured.

Spezza has seen hints of how good the Stars can be.

“The signs are here for us to be a good team. We skate well. We’re aggressive,” he said. “But learning to play with the lead and maybe having a little more disciplined game, once we get that down, we’ll have more wins, for sure.”

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Downhill for Avalanche?

Colorado was the biggest surprise in the NHL last season, rising from 29th in 2012-13 to third with 52 wins and 112 points. But the Avalanche is 1-1-3 in its last five games, missing out on precious points.

“Right now I think the biggest difference is, last year when we got in overtime, we won them all, and this year we’re 0-5. And we’re talking shootouts, too,” General Manager Joe Sakic said of his team, which last season led the NHL with 15 wins in overtime or a shootout. “You win two of those games, and all of a sudden it’s a different picture.”

He also said the West is deeper than when he played on two Avalanche Cup winners and battled Detroit for supremacy. “For about six years it was us two, and Dallas got in the picture. It was pretty much a three-team race,” he said. “And now there’s not a weak team. It’s a deep conference, and that’s what’s going to make this regular season real exciting.”

Slap shots

The Buffalo Sabres were smart to send No. 2 draft pick Sam Reinhart back to junior hockey. He was getting outmuscled and now can get stronger far away from the mess that is the Sabres....Congratulations to Chicago winger Marian Hossa on recording his 1,000th point. He became the 80th NHL player to reach that level and fourth active player, following Jaromir Jagr of New Jersey, Joe Thornton of San Jose, and Jarome Iginla of Colorado.... The New York Rangers’ battered defense took two big hits last weekend, losing Ryan McDonagh to a separated left shoulder for three to four weeks and Kevin Klein to a foot bruise for an undetermined amount of time.

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helene.elliott@latimes.com

Twitter: @helenenothelen

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