Surprise stars lift Ducks on big stage

NEW YORK -- Neither of the two scoring lines seemed to know their roles in the first act against the New York Rangers Thursday night so the Ducks’ grinders decided to step in with a command performance that earned applause backstage.

Brian Sutherby, George Parros and Brad May don’t often have starring roles but they got the Ducks started by setting up the game’s first goal and the rest of the team followed in a convincing 4-1 victory over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.

It was an ensemble effort, with Mathieu Schneider getting that initial goal and setting up another while Corey Perry, Chris Kunitz and Todd Bertuzzi had unanswered tallies as the Ducks (29-22-7) got their second win in the New York area after breaking a six-game losing streak Tuesday against the Islanders.

But it might have been different if the fourth line of Sutherby, Parros and May had not put together the team’s best shifts in the first period. Hard work along the boards in the Rangers’ zone, keyed by Sutherby and Parros, led to Schneider’s point shot through a screen set by Parros that gave Anaheim a 1-0 lead.

“Obviously we’re out there to kind of bang and crash and try to be physical and create energy,” said Sutherby, who got his first point since coming to the Ducks in a trade on Nov. 19. “But at the same time, you’re always trying to chip in and help out. Any time guys like us can chip in, it’s nice. It’s real nice to contribute.”

Those efforts weren’t lost on the team afterward.

“Those players earned their stripes tonight,” Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle said. “And they were the sparkplug. They helped our group and they were a huge part. And they feel good about it and our teammates feel good for them.”

Sutherby played more than 13 minutes as he had two shots, fought Rangers forward Brandon Dubinsky and helped a penalty-killing effort that erased four New York power plays, including a six-on-four advantage in the final 1 minute 52 seconds of the game when the Rangers pulled goalie Henrik Lundqvist.

May played nine minutes and was a plus-two while Parros had 7 1/2 minutes of ice time and a team-high six hits.

“They certainly deserve to get those minutes,” Defenseman Chris Pronger said. “It’s a little carrot for them to show that they can play the game and contribute more than just the physical part. They got the goal and really cycled the puck well. It was good to see.”

The Ducks were outshot, 33-19, but they made the most of their chances while Jean-Sebastien Giguere had another strong game in goal.

After the Rangers’ Ryan Callahan ended Giguere’s shutout streak at 152 minutes, 42 seconds in the second period, Perry responded with his 28th goal on a slapshot past Lundqvist after Schneider sprung him with a backhand pass out of the defensive zone.

“I think they had four guys down [low] and that’s how we ended up getting a two-on-one,” Schneider said. “I was just clearing the rebound. I was as surprised as anyone that we ended up with a two-on-one on that one.”

Kunitz made it 3-1 in the second with a rebound off a shot by Pronger. Teemu Selanne got an assist, his second in two games since coming out of semi-retirement. Both have come on the power play. “He’s obviously a guy that’s going to thrive in those situations for our team and has in the past,” Pronger said. “He’s obviously going to have to find his legs and to find his hands. But he’s certainly going to be around the puck.”

Bertuzzi got his first goal since Jan. 17 when he finished off a two-on-one with Ryan Getzlaf in the third.

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TONIGHT

at New Jersey, 4 PST, Prime Ticket

Site -- Prudential Center.

Radio -- 830.

Records -- Ducks 29-22-7; Devils 30-20-4.

Record vs. Devils (2006-07) -- 1-0-0.

Update -- Center Samuel Pahlsson is expected to play for the first time after being sidelined for 20 games because of persistent abdominal pain.

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eric.stephens@latimes.com