Giguere’s 38 saves give Ducks first win

Victories come in small packages: Killing a five-on-three advantage. Maintaining possession with a stiff forecheck. Snaring a wicked slap shot. Scoring on a power play.

The Ducks needed to win the little battles before they could win the big one Friday night, and they hit their marks against the San Jose Sharks, producing a solid all-around effort in a 4-0 victory at the Honda Center.

The victory ended a four-game losing streak for the Ducks (1-4), avoiding the possibility of a franchise-worst start as well as ending the distinction of being the only NHL team without a point. It also stopped San Jose’s franchise-best four-game winning streak to open the season.

“We were desperate for a win,” said Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle.

Jean-Sebastien Giguere stopped 38 shots in goal to record his 30th career shutout and first since Feb. 5 against the New York Islanders. Giguere helped kill all seven of San Jose’s power plays, a situation he has struggled with to start the season.

“Eventually, these things are going to turn around,” Giguere said. “I believe that you create your own luck and the bounces are eventually going to go your way.”

On offense, the Ducks managed only 20 shots on goal, but they found the right openings around San Jose goalie Evgeni Nabokov.

The checking line especially stepped up, producing two goals and two assists.

“All we’re trying to do is not have any turnovers and work down low,” said Rob Niedermayer, who had two assists to increase his team-high point total to four. “We got a couple good shots out there and we’ll take it, for sure.”

The Ducks appeared spirited right from the start, setting the tone with their physical, intimidating style. The Sharks had not been in a fight during their first four games, but the Ducks enticed them to drop the gloves three times in the opening 15 minutes.

Francois Beauchemin committed two hooking penalties in the opening period, and his second was followed up by hooking penalty by Niedermayer, giving San Jose a two-man advantage for just over a minute.

The Ducks killed those penalties and then carried the momentum to the other end of the ice, scoring on a goal by Beauchemin at 18:13 of the opening period. Kent Huskins had an assist on the play, as did last season’s leading point producer, Ryan Getzlaf, his first point of the season.

“I wasn’t too happy with the penalties I took, but it couldn’t happen any better,” Beauchemin said. “Coming back on the ice and getting a goal for the team.”

When these teams met in the season opener last week, the Sharks took control in the second period en route to a 4-1 victory. They continued to fire pucks at Giguere in the second period Friday, outshooting the Ducks, 32-14, heading into the third, but the Ducks managed to double their lead on a goal by Travis Moen at 3:56 of that period.

Anaheim then went on the power play for the third time when San Jose defenseman Rob Blake was called for interference on Corey Perry.

Eighteen seconds after he went to the box, Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger blasted a goal from just inside the blue line, giving the Ducks a 3-0 third-period lead and their first power-play goal this season.

“It’s nice to get rid of a couple goose eggs tonight,” Pronger said.

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dan.arritt@latimes.com