What we learned from the Ducks’ 6-1 win over Nashville

A Game 7 do-over? That really doesn’t apply here. Late October games are the furthest thing from playoff hockey. But the Ducks sure seemed like they exorcised the demons in their first game against Nashville since the Predators eliminated them in Game 7 of last season’s first round.

Special teams led the way in a 6-1 win Wednesday as the Ducks scored three power-play goals and two shorthanded goals for the first time in franchise history and the first time in the NHL since Edmonton in 2008.

Here’s what we learned:

Jakob Silfverberg is getting rewarded. Last season Silfverberg put a lot of shots on goal, and the returns took awhile. He scored 20 goals but didn’t get his second goal until Nov. 30.

Silfverberg scored shorthanded and on a power play for two goals in his first eight games.

“I told him just keep shooting the puck, and it’s going to go in,” linemate Ryan Kesler said. “Once you get the first one — you can see the way he can shoot it when he’s confident and poised with the puck. That second one was a laser.”

Antoine Vermette gets the early award for unsung hero. Vermette filled in at top line center for injured Ryan Getzlaf and continued to quietly do the blue-collar work.

Much of that is in the faceoff circle. Vermette won 14 of 18 faceoffs and continues to lead the NHL with a 70.7% faceoff-win percentage.

Anaheim, with Getzlaf, Vermette, Kesler and Chris Wagner at center, leads the NHL with 59.4% faceoff-win percentage.

Shea Theodore turned in one of his better games. The 21-year-old defenseman was on the ice for three of Anaheim’s goals, played more than four minutes shorthanded and helped run the power play. Only five giveaways marred his night, but he moved the puck effectively, often partnered with Sami Vatanen.