Ducks seem to get the point, defeat the Blues

It’s time for action, not mere words, but a little talking-to from General Manager Bob Murray and Coach Randy Carlyle this week might have spurred the Ducks.

Their 4-2 victory over St. Louis on Thursday at the Honda Center was their second in a row. Maybe, just maybe, this is not another false spring but the real thing for a team that was expected to be a contender but instead is far out of the playoff picture.

“Obviously, I think it ignited a fire,” said Bobby Ryan, who pulled the Ducks into a 2-2 third-period tie when he flew down the right wing and ripped a shot between a defenseman’s legs for his team-leading 20th goal.

“We’ve got a group of leaders that have voiced their opinions on numerous occasions, but, uh, when Bob Murray comes in and speaks, I think it really speaks volumes and gets through a little more.

“You know, Bob’s a guy that can really hammer a point home.”

St. Louis, another team coming off a disappointing first half, fired Andy Murray as coach Saturday and has lost seven in a row.

The Ducks’ Murray has been consistent in saying players will go before his coach, and he spoke to the team personally Tuesday.

“I think mainly, guys needed to realize the desperation,” Ryan said.

“We looked at being 12 points out of a playoff spot and the gap was just getting bigger. You don’t want the team to explode, I guess, for lack of a better word. This is a group that has all the tools, has everything we need for a run, and we need to put one together.”

The Ducks trailed, 2-1, in the third after two goals by Blues defenseman Barret Jackman, the first a short-hander only 5:35 into the game and the second a shot that deflected off Ducks defenseman Ryan Whitney.

James Wisniewski had the Ducks’ only goal before Ryan scored 8:18 into the final period.

Rookie Matt Beleskey scored what proved to be the game-winner with his second NHL goal -- and second in two games -- when he swatted home a rebound with 2:40 remaining after the Ducks helped force a turnover.

Todd Marchant added an empty-net goal for the final margin with 43 seconds left.

“At times it wasn’t a pretty hockey game from our standpoint, but we found a way to win and that’s the most encouraging thing for us,” said Carlyle, who also met with the players. “We’ve found a way to lose these hockey games before, and this time we found a way to win it.”

Though they’ve seemed close to breaking through several times this season, the Ducks keep slipping back. Even with consecutive wins, they’re 10 points out of a playoff spot.

The current problems have been injuries and -- hardly a coincidence -- a struggling power play. The Ducks entered the game one for their last 24 with a man advantage, and went 0 for 5 on Thursday, including a failed five-on-three.

The expected return of Teemu Selanne from a broken hand on this weekend’s trip should bolster that unit: Selanne is tied for the team lead with seven power-play goals this season and is one of the noted power-play scorers in NHL history.

“We think we can find a place for Selanne in our lineup and slide him in there,” Carlyle said, teasingly. “Hopefully that strengthens our confidence in the things we can accomplish as a group. That’s what’s most important as a group. It’s going to take every member of our hockey club.”

As for his talk, the close-to-the-vest Carlyle at first called it “rumors.”

“I’m not admitting to anything,” he said, then paused.

“It’s true we had some form of communication that was a little different than historically.

“We have no room for error.”

robynnorwood@verizon.net