What we learned from Ducks’ 4-3 shootout win over Flyers

The Ducks stared down a weeklong Eastern Conference road trip by beating the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 in a shootout Tuesday night, rallying from an alarming season-opening loss to Sidney Crosby and Co. in Pittsburgh with three consecutive victories.

A flight east that began with unknowns now has some answers, in the form of goalie Frederik Andersen’s three straight wins, rookie William Karlsson’s two-goal game in Buffalo and shootout winner Tuesday, and some key intangibles.

Takeaway No. 1: A critical piece of advice that helped transform Karlsson from hesitant newcomer to a player of impact came from Ducks Coach Bruce Boudreau.

In the preseason, Karlsson “was tentative, it’s why he didn’t start the first game,” Boudreau explained Tuesday night. “I told him to play with reckless abandon.”

Karlsson took eight shots in Buffalo, then flashed nerves of steel by being the surprise pick to take the fourth shootout try, skating at Flyers starting goalie Steve Mason and beating him in the shootout.

“I was glad to see the kid in the situation to win the game,” Ducks leader Ryan Getzlaf said. “And it was neat to see him do it.”

Takeaway No. 2: Monday night, it was a dominant showing in faceoffs. Tuesday night, it was a 23-10 advantage in blocked shots that helped the Ducks survive getting outshot 18-6 in the second period.

“A lot of scrambling, it wasn’t the most flawless game we’ve played, but we found a way to get it done,” Getzlaf said. “Pucks were rolling out there … you can get in those back-to-back games, tend not to move your feet as well as you should. We got in a little trouble, but we were able to regroup.”

Takeaway No. 3: Playing with the first line, no matter who it is, boosts the points total.

After Patrick Maroon (three assists in two-plus games) hurt his left leg Monday, Matt Beleskey joined Getzlaf and Corey Perry and was the beneficiary of a sterling Getzlaf pass and finished it with his own backhand that became goal No. 3 of the season.

Beleskey is already one-third of the way to his 2013-14 goals total of nine.

Takeaway No. 4: Frederik Andersen is the Ducks’ clear No. 1 goalie.

Beating Philadelphia with 39 saves in regulation and overtime — when the Flyers scored a goal during a two-man advantage and another on a power play — was Andersen’s third consecutive win.

Boudreau admitted he worried about sending 21-year-old rookie John Gibson into the “tough building” packed with pressure.

No such worry with Andersen.