Ryan Getzlaf comes back to assist in Ducks’ 4-2 win over Blue Jackets

When Ryan Getzlaf underwent an appendectomy last week, he joked that he felt lighter.

It was a light moment for a player who once sustained nasal sinus fractures and deep facial lacerations in separate incidents getting hit by the puck.

But the Ducks captain looked fit, fast and sharp Friday when he spearheaded a 4-2 win against Columbus at Honda Center. Getzlaf had three assists in his first game since the procedure, and the reunited line of Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Patrick Maroon combined for a goal and six assists to support another stellar game by goalie Frederik Andersen.

“I felt the same, but I did feel like my legs were under me and I was ready to play,” Getzlaf said. “The excitement was definitely there. Being out for four games isn’t fun. It gave me a little time to sit back and get my legs under me and get excited again.”

Getzlaf’s line was last seen nudging the Ducks to the brink of the Stanley Cup final in May, and it delivered the game-winning goal when Perry’s slick pass set up defenseman Josh Manson’s first NHL goal in the third period.

“We played like we did last year,” Getzlaf said of his line. “That’s the big difference. Toward the start of the year, I didn’t think we played with the energy and the puck management that we’re used to playing with. It makes a big difference when we do.”

The Ducks are 3-0 since General Manager Bob Murray released a public stand down on the status of Coach Bruce Boudreau. The Ducks are slowly checking off boxes.

“It’s not all 15 or 18 guys at a time, it’s one guy here, one guy there,” Boudreau said. “There’s still a few guys we’d like to get their goose eggs out so they can relax a little bit. That will come with time, I’m sure.”

It took fewer than four minutes for Getzlaf to make an impact. He threaded an outlet pass between two defenders to spring Perry for a breakaway. Perry was initially stopped by ex-Ducks goalie Curtis McElhinney, but Cam Fowler put in the rebound at the goal mouth.

Maroon started the rush with a pass at the boards and was later rewarded with his first goal on a tap-in of Perry’s rebound on the power play in the second period for a 2-0 lead.

Manson’s goal came in his first game back from an upper-body injury, and the emotion was still evident on his face afterward.

“Elation,” Manson said. “I think I ran out of breath I was screaming so hard.”

The Ducks gave the Blue Jackets two power plays late in the second period but their top-ranked penalty kill held form through the remaining 1:48 to start the third. Scott Hartnell pulled Columbus to 3-2 with one minute left before Clayton Stoner got his first goal this season, on an empty net.

Getzlaf’s return was particularly needed because Rickard Rakell hasn’t been on the ice since he sustained an upper-body injury Wednesday. It seems unlikely he would be available before next week.

“He didn’t skate the last two days, so you can read into that what you want,” Boudreau said.

DUCKS AT SAN JOSE

When: 7:30 p.m., Saturday.

On the air: TV: FS West; Radio: 830

Update: The Ducks will go for their first road victory in a venue where they are winless in seven straight games, including their season opener. In that game, they were shut out by goaltender Martin Jones, who has a career 1.73 goals-against average in four games against Anaheim. San Jose captain Joe Pavelski has eight goals, and the Sharks’ off-season acquisition Joel Ward has seven goals.