What we learned from the Ducks’ comeback victory over the Hurricanes

So much for a low-scoring affair on a quiet Wednesday night. The Ducks and Carolina Hurricanes combined for 10 goals, then went to a shootout that ended in a 6-5 Ducks win at Honda Center.

Here’s what we learned:

Corey Perry might be due for a scoring run

Perry said his career-long 18-game goal-scoring drought wasn’t weighing on him heavily, although all those looks of exasperation during the slump — from before Halloween to early December — belied that notion.

“It has but … it really hasn’t,” Perry said. “I’m trying to help other guys score and if I’m not scoring, I might as well be dishing it, I guess. Like I said, I’ve been getting chances. I’ve been getting shots. Those bounces, hopefully, they turn the other way.”

Perry has worked through dry spells in the past. He’s been a streaky scorer, notably his 30 goals in the final half of the 2010-11 season that earned him the Hart Trophy as most valuable player. Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle evoked Teemu Selanne’s ketchup bottle theory in that once the bottle is open, the goals flow.

Perry just wants to be more consistent.

“You try to limit the peaks and valleys in a season,” Perry said. “It’s been a while since I scored. You forget the feeling. Hopefully it’s in the past and you can move forward and build off this one.”

Stefan Noesen will get more than a cup of coffee this time

The Ducks might want to put on a pot after the rookie scored his first NHL goal, in his third NHL game.

Noesen’s previous NHL experience consisted of one game in each of the past two seasons.

Carlyle is still trying to find identity on all his lines, and Noesen will get a look as a 6-foot-1, 208-pound forward on the fourth line. Noesen, who transitioned from right wing to center, had not played a full season in the minors until last year because of major knee and Achilles injuries.

“He’s skating much better and he’s made a contribution as being their best forward down there [in San Diego] over the last while,” Carlyle said.

The defense rests

Less prominent in the storylines was that the Ducks have given up 16 goals in three games. That number is skewed by a throwaway 8-3 loss to the Calgary Flames, but it’s still disconcerting for a team that typically has a strong defensive identity.

Anaheim suffered major lapses in the second period and gave up two break-in goals on goalie John Gibson, while Teuvo Teravainen was unchecked to put in a goal in traffic in the third.

“We feel good about the win, but there are parts of the game we definitely have to shore up,” Carlyle said.

Perry recognized the character shown, even if the defense didn’t always show.

“Every night isn’t going to be pretty,” Perry said. “You’re going to have to win some ugly ones in this league.”