Another Special Win for Ducks

The Mighty Ducks finally got the hang of the specialty-team festival otherwise known as the new NHL.

They capitalized on two power plays Tuesday and, for the first time this season, killed all of their penalties. That propelled them to a 4-1 victory over the Nashville Predators, their fourth in a row and sixth straight at the Arrowhead Pond, the NHL’s longest home winning streak. That also matched the club record of six consecutive home wins, set Dec. 1-22, 2002.

“We’re getting a lot of good things out of everybody right now,” Andy McDonald said. “We had a tough start to the year and we kind of got on a roll now.”

McDonald, Jonathan Hedstrom and Scott Niedermayer scored in the second period and Chris Kunitz transformed a third-period turnover into his first NHL goal as the Ducks rallied past the Predators, who have lost three in a row after an 8-0 start. The effort was appreciated by the announced crowd of 11,690, which included 35 tickets purchased by former Duck Paul Kariya.

The speedy winger, visiting for the second time since he left for Colorado as a free agent after the Ducks’ 2003 Stanley Cup final run, was booed every time he touched the puck. He had scored the decisive shootout goal when the Predators defeated the Ducks, 3-2, at Nashville on Oct. 8.

“We needed to have a good team effort,” said goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere, who made 32 saves. “We have lots of injuries, and we needed everybody to show up.”

The Predators scored first on a one-timer by former King Yanic Perreault, the center’s 200th career goal.

The Ducks found their stride in the second period, scoring three times and dominating the play. They also killed off three disadvantages, and were seven for seven in the game.

McDonald brought the Ducks even 17 seconds into the period, taking a pass off the boards from Todd Fedoruk and rushing to the net for a backhander that slid between goalie Tomas Vokoun’s leg pads. The goal was McDonald’s sixth in six games.

With David Legwand serving a hooking penalty, the Ducks surged ahead at 5:08.

Hedstrom captured the puck behind the net and sent it around the boards to McDonald before heading toward the slot. McDonald cut to the net and rifled a shot that Hedstrom redirected past Vokoun for his third goal this season.

Near the end of a period turned choppy by the referees’ frequent whistles, the Ducks padded their lead to 3-1 as Niedermayer took a cross-ice pass from Selanne and sent a lunging shot over Vokoun’s left shoulder. The goal was Niedermayer’s first since the team’s opener at Chicago on Oct. 5.

“This group has been resilient,” Duck Coach Randy Carlyle said. “We’re winning on teamwork.... It’s gratifying not only for the coaching staff but for the players.”

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Rookie Ryan Getzlaf, who sat out his fifth game because of a shoulder strain, is scheduled to practice today and accompany the team to Denver for Thursday’s game. Sandis Ozolinsh (fractured rib) and Corey Perry (concussion) remain out indefinitely. Travis Moen (knee strain) is day to day.... Sergei Fedorov (groin) skated Tuesday for about 20 minutes but isn’t expected back soon. He has sat out 10 games.