Marchant is back on plus side

Todd Marchant knew all about the streak -- one that he hopes not to repeat. He hadn’t scored a point in nearly two months until he set up Dustin Penner’s goal in the first period of the Ducks’ 4-1 victory Sunday over the Dallas Stars.

The veteran center had an assist Dec. 9 in a win over Tampa Bay before going scoreless for the next 12 games. He also missed six other games because of a strained stomach muscle.

“We had some success on that one road trip to the East Coast,” Marchant said. “And then I got hurt and our lines were all over the place. Guys were with different people. I came back from injury and it just didn’t come back the way” they wanted.

The goal was also big for Marchant’s linemate. Penner had two points in his last 11 games.

Defenseman Ric Jackman started the sequence with a big shot from the point. Marchant outdueled Stars defenseman Sergei Zubov for the rebound and got a pass to Penner, who beat goalie Marty Turco.

“We’ve been getting chances but we haven’t been able to put it in the net,” Penner said. “I think it’s just a sign of things to come.”

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The Ducks didn’t hold back defensemen Chris Pronger and Francois Beauchemin in their first game back; Pronger played 26 minutes 43 seconds and Beauchemin logged a game-high 29:41 and was a plus-two on his shifts at even strength.

“We knew they could play those minutes because of their conditioning level,” Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle said. “That’s a lot of off-ice workouts. That’s a lot of hard work that has to be put in on their part.”

Said Pronger: “I had a few extended stays on the bench so I was able to catch my breath. I felt pretty good.”

Pronger missed nine games because of a broken left foot and Beauchemin missed 11 because of a lacerated spleen.

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The Ducks’ announced crowd of 17,331 was their seventh consecutive sellout, the longest streak since the 1997-98 season. Nine of the last 10 home games have been announced sellouts.

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The Ducks spent part of Friday at Santa Anita race track for a team event. Carlyle said he didn’t pick any winners but Joe Trotta, the team’s video coordinator, did well. “He knows that stuff,” Carlyle said.

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eric.stephens@latimes.com