They win old-fashioned way

This was how the Ducks won games before cap-driven trades, temporary retirements, self-destructive tendencies and injuries dragged them down to the middle of the NHL pack.

Splendid goaltending, a potent power play and strong penalty-killing fueled their 2007 Stanley Cup triumph, elements that have since shown up infrequently and rarely at the same time.

The Ducks recaptured those ingredients Sunday, fending off the lethargy and adversity that have swamped them and winning a game they had considered vital.

Goaltender Jonas Hiller stopped 29 shots -- eight during a four-minute disadvantage in the second period --and Bobby Ryan contributed a goal and an assist on two successful power plays as the Ducks earned a sound 2-0 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes at the Honda Center.

“The proof in the pudding is that their team is a past champion,” said Coyotes Coach Wayne Gretzky, who knows a few things about winning titles.

“They want to become a champion again. They played this game like it was a playoff game.”

The victory, only the Ducks’ second in their last seven games, was as important to their playoff positioning as their self-esteem. They had been tied for sixth with the Coyotes but now have a two-point edge and more optimism than they did after their 5-4 shootout loss Friday to the Flyers.

“They had the same amount of points and for sure we want to look forward and not to the teams behind us,” Hiller said after recording his third NHL shutout.

“But also it was important mentally. We had a good game against Philly and lost it in the shootout, which was hard on our mind. Everybody fought back and we showed today that if we play the same way, we always have a chance to win, and tonight that’s what we did.”

It was what they used to do so well -- and must do again on a consistent basis.

“Tonight was our best team effort that we’ve had,” said Coach Randy Carlyle, who cautioned his players against trading scoring chances, as they had done against the Flyers, and demanded a grinding game on every inch of the ice.

Grit and intensity were key parts of their 2007 success too, but their cast has changed dramatically since then and it changed again Sunday, with Teemu Selanne still recovering from a lacerated thigh and Corey Perry serving the first game of a four-game suspension.

Ryan has stepped up dramatically, and he continued his energetic play Sunday. It was his shot that led to the first goal: Ilya Bryzgalov made a save but the rebound went to Scott Niedermayer, who was behind the net when he passed to Chris Pronger in the left circle for a slap shot at 3:32 of the second period. Ryan scored the second goal on a one-timer from the left circle at 2:59 of the third period, set up by Niedermayer.

Sammy Pahlsson contributed too, providing a tough-to-move target in front of the net on power plays and winning some crucial faceoffs, and the penalty killers were as effective as the power-play unit.

“Hard work, just like in any part of the game, goes a long way,” Niedermayer said. “I think we had guys hustling out there, moving their feet, competing for the puck, and they found a way to get a couple of key goals for us.”

The Ducks being the Ducks -- the second-most penalized team in the NHL and most often short-handed -- they put themselves down two men for 36 seconds in the first period and down one man for four minutes in the second period.

In that last instance, Ducks defenseman Brendan Mikkelson was falling when he accidentally brought up his stick and hit Coyotes winger Daniel Carcillo, resulting in a double minor for high-sticking. The Coyotes had taken only two shots on goal before then but threw everything they had at the Ducks, who soon were at an even greater disadvantage.

Defenseman Brett Festerling broke his stick and couldn’t get back to the bench for a new one because the Coyotes kept the puck in the Ducks’ zone for more than 2 minutes 40 seconds -- and because the goal the Ducks defended in the second period is the farthest from their bench.

Forward Rob Niedermayer gave his stick to Festerling, but he couldn’t get a replacement because play continued for so long.

“It was pretty tough,” Rob Niedermayer said. “All I could do is try to stay in the guy’s lane.

“Sammy, Scott and Brett did great work and [Hiller] made some big saves. That was a key point for us, for sure.”

Brother Scott agreed. “It was a tough, tough shift,” he said.

They thrived on it, though, and played as complete a game as they have in a while. They’ll have to play like that in every game, starting Tuesday when they open a home-and-home series against the Kings, and that won’t be easy.

“Today everybody was here from the beginning,” Hiller said. “We tried to outwork our opponent and that’s what we did tonight. I think if we play that way we have a chance to beat every team.

“L.A. improved a lot since last year and they’re close, so it would be great to win those games against L.A. especially and get some points and we’ll go forward in the standings.”

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helene.elliott@latimes.com