There’s no masking this Duck’s effort

It was hard to fathom how Ducks defenseman Francois Beauchemin would miss a playoff game against the Minnesota Wild because he was fatigued, felt ill.

That was unlike him, but, after all, he had been hit in the face with a deflected shot in Game 3.

On Friday, it was harder to fathom how he came back for Game 5.

Beauchemin played a team-high 28 minutes 32 seconds in the Ducks’ series-clinching 4-1 victory Thursday night wearing a special face mask. And that told the real story.

The mask was to protect two slight fractures in his jaw.

That’s right. Beauchemin got more ice time than higher-profile teammates Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger despite being injured.

The news, disclosed Friday, made it more understandable why the 6-foot defenseman sat out Game 4 of the Ducks’ Western Conference first-round series. He had had a plate implanted in his jaw that day.

“We know what type of competitor he is, and he’s proven that to us night in and night out,” Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle said. “Some guys can take a lot more [pain] than some other individuals. He’s a special hockey player.”

The Ducks said they didn’t acknowledge the injury right away for fear that the Wild would target Beauchemin and possibly inflict further damage. Yet as he skated around Thursday night with the additional cage attached to his visor, it was clear he would draw attention.

Minnesota forward Marian Gaborik took a swing at the defenseman in the second period, which drew an angry response.

“He had to know something,” Beauchemin said. “I’m wearing a jaw protector, and the guy punched me in the face. I was pretty hot.”

Said Carlyle of Beauchemin: “That just got his emotional level right up. I thought he was a better player after that.”

It was another telling moment for a late bloomer who in two years has become a frontline NHL defenseman. Beauchemin already has a two-goal game in the postseason and is averaging nearly 28 minutes on the ice.

The Ducks have also shown how much they value the 26-year-old Quebec native, signing him to a two-year, $3.3-million contract extension that kicks in after this season.

Beauchemin credits Carlyle, a former NHL defenseman, for showing confidence in him as soon as he arrived in Anaheim in November 2005 as part of the Sergei Fedorov trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

“Randy knew what I needed to do to perform at the NHL level,” Beauchemin said. “He gave me the opportunity to get everything I need to be a good NHL player. By playing with Scotty, it also gave me confidence in playing on the penalty kill and power play and also playing against top lines.

“That’s all a hockey player just asks for.”

The Ducks realize that they got an absolute steal in the deal.

“I think in the new age of salary cap and parity that’s in the league, there aren’t too many blue lines that he wouldn’t fit into,” Carlyle said.

It hasn’t been an easy season for Beauchemin. With the acquisition of Pronger, his offensive numbers were down as he got less time on the power play.

He also sat out 11 games because of a lacerated spleen suffered when he took a hard hit from San Jose’s Patrick Marleau in a Dec. 26 game. Still, Beauchemin managed seven goals and 21 assists in 71 games.

With a lacerated spleen part of one’s medical history, it makes a broken jaw pale in comparison.

“Any time you get a fracture, you’re concerned about when you’re able to play again,” Beauchemin said. “But they gave me some good news. I knew I’d have to miss Game 4, but it would be my decision to be ready for Game 5. If the swelling went down a little it and I was comfortable out there, I felt I could play. It could have been worse. I know guys that have been out four to six weeks with that. Mine wasn’t that bad.”

That’s the story the Ducks wanted to hear.

eric.stephens@latimes.com