What we learned from the Ducks’ 4-1 win over the Wild

Call it baby steps or the power of positive thinking. The Ducks simply called it a victory.

They got their first of the season Sunday when a 4-1 victory against the Minnesota Wild ended a scoring drought that lasted nearly three games and, at least temporarily, halted panic in Anaheim.

Here’s what we learned:

1. The expectations of Rickard Rakell’s breakout season are justified. Rakell was the Ducks’ best forward. He was active, engaged and continued to show why many have him pegged for a standout season as a two-way center.

His goal was the unglamorous one the Ducks needed, a tip of a shot in the goalmouth.

“That’s what we’ve been working on every day in practice,” Rakell said. “To get rewarded like that - those are the kind of goals you want.”

2. Anton Khudobin made Bruce Boudreau look smart. It was almost dumbfounding when Khudobin led the Ducks on the ice for warmups. Coach Boudreau started his backup goalie in a huge game but it paid off when Khudobin made 34 saves for his first Ducks victory.

“I knew he would do a good job, whether it’s a gut feeling or whatever,” Boudreau said.

Khudobin got better as the game went along. He said there was considerable pressure with the weight hanging over them.

“It’s kind of a little bit bigger because we didn’t win yet,” Khudobin said. “Everybody was maybe nervous a little bit, but at the same time, we did our job. We got the ‘W.’”

3. There is still work to be done. The Ducks chased Minnesota for most of the second period and were outshot, 13-3. Their top players still need to get going: Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Ryan Kesler are still without a goal, although Getzlaf and Perry each got assists.

Boudreau acknowledged the work ahead, but for one night he could exhale.

“Getting the two points and the win, I think, is really important for the psyche of the group,” Boudreau said. “Let’s just hope it’s not a satisfactory thing and we grow from there.”