After bad patch, it’s time to let the healing begin

What can a few days away from the rink do for a team?

The Ducks will provide an answer to that question after stumbling into the All-Star break on a 2-7-2 skid, during which Nashville passed them for the top spot in the Western Conference and San Jose closed to within two points of their lead in the Pacific Division.

But in the eight days since a 3-2 loss at Calgary, the Ducks have gotten back three critical pieces to their record-breaking start this season -- defensemen Chris Pronger and Francois Beauchemin and goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

None of the three has played in the new calendar year; all will be available today against Dallas.

“We’ve got three guys back who are a huge part of our team,” forward Corey Perry said. “You realize how much you miss them when they’re out of the lineup. It’s a great confidence boost for everybody.”

Pronger said he is eager to return. Despite missing the last nine games because of a broken left foot, he remains among the league’s top-scoring defensemen with 40 points.

“You never want to be sitting out and be laid up on injured reserve,” Pronger said. “It’s always fun getting back into the mix.”

The Ducks were able to get their minds off their recent losing ways.

“We’ve had eight days of relief from the hectic schedule we were on,” Coach Randy Carlyle said. “We’ve got healthy people coming back. Hopefully it transforms itself into positive energy.”

Giguere said key players rejoining the lineup doesn’t guarantee a return to success.

“At the end of the day, we’ll need the effort from everybody,” he said. “Everybody’s going to be desperate at this point. And we should be desperate too.”

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The Ducks’ search for an offensive forward to complement youngsters Ryan Getzlaf and Perry on a long-term basis has found Mark Hartigan, who gets his chance after being acquired from Columbus.

Hartigan, 29, scored 86 goals in three college seasons at St. Cloud (Minn.) State and has 122 goals in the American Hockey League but was unable to stick with Atlanta and Columbus.

“We’re going to give him a look and see if he can help out,” Carlyle said. “He has speed. There’s no question.”

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TODAY

vs. Dallas, 12:30, Channel 4

Site -- Honda Center.

Radio -- 830.

Records -- Ducks 30-12-8, Stars 29-18-2.

Record vs. Stars -- 2-0-1.

Update -- As expected, Scott Niedermayer will not play because of a stress fracture in his right foot. The Ducks took advantage of an injury-plagued Dallas team in their 5-1 victory on Jan. 11, but the Stars will have defenseman Sergei Zubov and center Jeff Halpern back in the lineup.

eric.stephens@latimes.com