Ducks move forward after falling in line

Three forwards who like to take charge in the offensive zone.

One puck.

Discuss.

It’s not an essay question. It’s what Bobby Ryan, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry did to revive the Ducks.

Ryan had been slotted on the left side with Getzlaf and Perry earlier this season but they didn’t mesh. Coach Randy Carlyle, reluctant to put a lot of pressure on a rookie, moved Ryan off that line and opened a revolving door in that spot.

“We’ve been used to having a different left winger every week,” Getzlaf said Monday, not exaggerating much.

But then Ryan began to assert himself, and Carlyle reunited him with Getzlaf and Perry in hopes of creating a dominant first line.

This time it took, because they thrashed out who would do what and when.

“Bobby’s a player who wants the puck all the time and there’s only one puck,” Getzlaf said. “It was a situation where we had to work it out between the three of us and learn to trust each other that much more, that if you give it you’re going to get it back, probably.”

The result was milestone seasons for all three and a return to the playoffs for the Ducks, who will open their first-round series against the Sharks on Thursday in San Jose.

Ryan, 22, led NHL rookies with 31 goals and 57 points in 64 games after he was called up from the minor leagues in November. He became the first rookie with a team in the Pacific time zone to lead the NHL in points since Luc Robitaille scored 87 for the Kings in 1986-87.

Getzlaf finished seventh among NHL scorers with 91 points, including a club-record 66 assists. Perry set career bests with 32 goals and 72 points, including 40 points in his final 40 games.

During the final nine games of the season, the trio was instrumental in completing the Ducks’ transformation from a lackluster 12th to one of the league’s hottest teams. They totaled 38 points, Getzlaf leading the way with 14 -- two goals and 12 assists -- followed by Perry (8+5) and Ryan (7+4).

The Ducks faced the Sharks twice in that span and split a home-and-home series, with each winning in the other’s building. Both times Getzlaf’s line was matched against San Jose’s top line, centered by Joe Thornton for wingers Jonathan Cheechoo and Jeremy Roenick. Thornton’s line had two even-strength goals while Perry and Ryan each scored a power-play goal and an even-strength goal and Getzlaf had five assists.

Patrick Marleau sat out both games because of an undisclosed injury but is expected to return Thursday and displace Roenick.

Ryan said he wants to face the Thornton line, though San Jose might opt to use a checking line against them. The Sharks, as the home team, will have the last line change in the first two games.

“I don’t want to say that we’re the better line, but I do think that with the three of us playing with the puck below the goal line we’re going to be able to sustain some offensive pressure,” Ryan said.

“Obviously, we can’t give Joe too many opportunities to set up where he likes to, but I think all three of us realize we have to take on a bit of a defensive role.”

They also realize they must stay calm and avoid bad penalties, and that has never come easily for the Ducks.

The teams’ last game, a 3-2 San Jose victory at the Honda Center on April 5, ended with a scuffle caused by emotions that had been inflamed by the high stakes and the low-quality officiating. In winning the season series, 4-2, the Sharks had 31 power plays to 21 for the Ducks.

“That kind of kicks us in the butt sometimes,” Perry said of the Ducks’ lack of restraint. “We know coming in we have to be disciplined. Their power play is great. They’ve got shooters on the point and one of the best playmakers in the game and we’ve got to be prepared to kill penalties when needed and to stay out of the penalty box.”

Ryan played two playoff games last spring as a fourth-line “energy” player, mainly to experience the intensity of the postseason. This time he will be counted on to score.

“And I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

Getzlaf and Perry, who got limited playoff experience in 2006 and matured into key performers in the Ducks’ Stanley Cup run in 2007, plan to talk Ryan through this big step-up.

“I think that he’s going to be good,” Getzlaf said. “He’s confident and he’s ready to play.”

Discussion over -- until Thursday.

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helene.elliott@latimes.com

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Ducks vs. San Jose

The Sharks won the season series against the Ducks, 4-2. The Ducks were 1-2 at San Jose, and 1-2 at home:

Oct. 9: at Sharks 4, Ducks 1

Oct. 17: at Ducks 4, Sharks 0

Dec. 11: at Sharks 2, Ducks 0

March 15: Sharks 1, at Ducks 0

April 4: Ducks 5, at Sharks 2

April 5: Sharks 3, at Ducks 2

Source: nhl.com