What we learned from the Ducks’ 2-0 win over Detroit

One of the main points of emphasis for the Ducks after the Christmas break was the roster’s mix of older players and kids, veterans in their 30s who have either won a Stanley Cup or played for one, along with those who are just getting their feet wet in the NHL.

The latter stood out Wednesday in a 2-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings.

Here’s what we learned:

The third line clicked

Nick Ritchie, Ondrej Kase and Antoine Vermette were the Ducks’ best line offensively. Ritchie, 21, scored and Vermette assisted on both goals. The three were put together early this season and for most of the pre-Christmas road trip and the chemistry was evident.

Vermette saw an opportunity with the Ducks missing injured Ryan Getzlaf.

“I didn’t see why we couldn’t have a good game here,” Vermette said. “We believe we have a lot of players that can fill in and have a strong game for our team.”

Kase, 21,whose goal celebrations are getting more fun to watch each time, got his third career NHL goal on a backhand after Vermette kicked the puck to him.

Corey Perry and Rickard Rakell rekindled their chemistry

The duo turned in a near-highlight play when Perry made a no-look drop pass to a streaking Rakell in the second period.

The two have been paired at times, dating to last season, and it’s something the Ducks can fall back on when they have to adjust the lines. Perry is stuck in another goal-scoring slump — 10 games and running — but he was noticeable and active.

Rakell has gotten many of his 16 goals playing wing, but Ducks Coach Randy Carlyle prefers for him to play center like he did Wednesday so he can handle the puck more.

The Ducks tightened up

One statistic that Carlyle often brings out is scoring chances allowed, and he counted nine against Detroit.

“That’s the type of hockey we’re going to have to play,” Carlyle said.

Anaheim was much better at the start and limited chances in its first game since it allowed 55 shots to the Philadelphia Flyers last Sunday. Defenseman Brandon Montour, 22, returned to the lineup and was a plus-1 in nearly 16 minutes in the third pairing with Kevin Bieksa.

The more-defensive win also came on a rare night when the Ducks didn’t control faceoffs — they lost 28 of 49.

Detroit is known as a skating team, although it was banged up and not the juggernaut from seasons past. But it still has longtime nemesis Henrik Zetterberg and goalie Petr Mrazek, who dueled John Gibson for most of the game.

“That was definitely more like the effort we want to reproduce,” Vermette said. “We want to take pride in our defensive play. Today was more solid in that regard.”