Price paid for bad loss

Like the rest of his Ducks teammates, Teemu Selanne originally had other plans Monday with a three-day break in between games.

All he would say was that he planned to visit his “happy place” and one would figure that would include golf clubs. But the Ducks’ sloppy 5-3 loss to the Kings on Sunday, which Coach Randy Carlyle called their worst performance this season, changed everything.

“It was a miserable drive here today,” Selanne joked after a practice session at Anaheim Ice. “This was not my plan.”

The Ducks had a grinding hourlong session that was punishment for their misdeeds after twice blowing leads -- a bad end to an otherwise successful homestand in which they went 6-1-1.

Carlyle said he planned to have individual meetings with players but instead decided to focus on sharpening their game.

“Are we happy about it?” he said about the loss. “No, we’re not happy about it at all. We’re extremely disappointed. The most important [game] now becomes our next one.”

Selanne agreed.

“To get better right away, you have to first be honest and admit how bad you were,” he said. “And then after that, you can take the next step forward.”

The Ducks usually have come back strong after a bad performance.

For example, after a listless outing in Dallas last month, they defeated Colorado two nights later to start a 10-game stretch in which they went 8-0-2.

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Defenseman Chris Pronger skated for the first time since breaking his left toe March 4 and said he was confident he would return when the Ducks began a four-game trip next week.

Pronger left the ice before practice and wouldn’t commit to taking part in today’s workout.

“As long as it feels good,” he said. “I haven’t skated in two weeks.”

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Center Todd Marchant, out the last 14 games because of an abdominal strain, got through another full practice and could be nearing a return.... Defenseman Francois Beauchemin skipped Monday’s session to rest an upper-body injury but was expected to work out today.... Left wing Brad May, who has a groin pull, skated alone and reported progress.

eric.stephens@latimes.com