Loney Line Warms Up to Task of Leading Ducks : Hockey: Threesome continues strong play with nine points in a 6-3 victory over the Flyers.

Troy Loney offers experience and reliability, Shaun Van Allen a subtle touch and Joe Sacco the raw power of explosive skating speed.

Three different players playing to three different strengths carried the Mighty Ducks to a 6-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers Wednesday at Anaheim Arena.

Hot streaks go in cycles and at the moment Loney, Van Allen and Sacco are scalding.

“That line over the last four or five games has just been unbelievable,” Coach Ron Wilson said after they combined for nine points (four goals and five assists) Wednesday.

Loney, Duck captain and acknowledged dressing-room leader, has emerged the past two games as a force on the ice. Each game is beginning to carry more significance as the Ducks fight for the eighth and final playoff berth in the Western Conference, and Loney needs to make more of a statement on the ice, according to Wilson.

“It’s definitely important to get some offensive output from the people who are leaders in the dressing room,” Wilson said.

No complaints, mind you. But Loney’s actions in consecutive, 6-3, victories over Edmonton on Sunday and Philadelphia on Wednesday were loud and clear.

He didn’t lead the line in scoring. That honor went to Sacco, who scored two goals in each victory. He didn’t make the pretty assists. Van Allen, who had two Wednesday and one Sunday, did.

But he made an impact, in the form of a goal and an assist Wednesday and a goal Sunday, and that’s what counts, according to Wilson.

“He’s a bull down low near the net,” Wilson said.

It’s nothing new, Loney said. Only the results have been different recently.

“We’ve been playing real well the last five games,” he said. “Before that, we were playing well, but weren’t finishing (scoring chances).”

He also had his own take on the line’s strengths.

“Joe’s got the speed, Van Allen’s a good passer and I just sort of schlump along,” said Loney, who helped the Pittsburgh Penguins to Stanley Cup victories in 1990-91 and 1991-92.

“I just go to the net and open things up for those guys. It goes to show you that there can be three guys doing different things to have a successful line.”

Inevitably, talk turned to the playoff race and Loney’s role as a veteran in such situations.

“I’ve been in these situations before and I’ve seen what guys try to do to win games,” he said. “A big goal, a big defensive play . . . anything that elevates the team. Seeing what I do rubs off on everybody.”

Loney is just happy he’s able to contribute. A knee injury required arthroscopic surgery on Nov. 17 and he missed 17 games. It took a while, but Wilson said Loney is back to full skating strength.

Lately, that’s been obvious. Loney scored his third goal in the past four games Wednesday and has at least one point in seven of the past 13 games.

“Tony (Semenov’s) line carried us for a while,” Loney said of the line of Semenov, Peter Douris and Garry Valk. “Bob Corkum carried us for a long time.”

Now, it has fallen to Loney, Van Allen and Sacco.