Young players provide unexpected offense

Trading winger Joffrey Lupul to Edmonton for Chris Pronger was supposed to strengthen the Ducks’ defense but deplete their offense.

Instead, they’ve scored a Western Conference-leading 86 goals, fueled by an improved power play and the maturation of several young players.

Second-year left wing Chris Kunitz leads the Ducks with 13 goals. Right wing Dustin Penner, who played 19 games last season and 13 in the playoffs, is second with nine goals.

Center Ryan Getzlaf, with eight goals, and right wing Corey Perry, with five, have provided balance and depth that opponents can’t often match.

“That was our goal for this year, to step up and be contributors, not just be one of the guys like last year, where we just watched and tried to get our feet wet,” Perry said. “We wanted to come into this season and try to do things that got us here.

“We’re starting to do that. We’re starting to feel a little bit comfortable.”

Kunitz has thrived alongside Andy McDonald and Teemu Selanne. But he also clicked with Getzlaf and Perry and with Todd Marchant and Ryan Shannon.

“He seems to add a dimension that allows that line to go out and have some sort of territorial advantage,” Coach Randy Carlyle said Saturday after the Ducks practiced at the Honda Center.

“His versatility is shining through, and I think he has more confidence in his abilities.... He puts a lot of work in.”

Kunitz said the youngsters took it to heart when Carlyle cautioned them to avoid a sophomore jinx.

“I think we all kind of went out and started to prove ourselves,” Kunitz said, “and we got ahead of the game a little early, so you get the confidence and keep going.”

However, no one is immune to Carlyle’s wrath. Perry, Penner and Shane O’Brien were ordered to push the nets up and down the ice repeatedly Saturday as punishment for reporting late.

“There’s different ways to extract your revenge. That’s one of them,” Carlyle said. “That one seems to get their attention the most.”

Perry said it was “all fun,” but added, “we don’t want to do that again.”

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DUCKS TONIGHT

vs. Calgary, 5, Ch. 56

Site -- Honda Center.

Radio -- 830.

Records -- Ducks 16-2-6, Flames 10-9-2.

Record vs. Flames -- 0-1.

Update -- The Flames inflicted the Ducks’ first regulation loss, scoring two quick goals in a 3-0 victory Nov. 10 at Calgary. “We’ve got to have a better first period and play all 60 minutes,” Perry said. Ducks goalie Ilya Bryzgalov (sore groin) might skate today but won’t be in uniform.

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helene.elliott@latimes.com