MANY HAPPY RETURNS DUCKS GET PLAYERS BACK, EARN VICTORY.

Byline: T.J. BERKA Staff Writer

ANAHEIM -- The Ducks' first game after the All-Star break marked the return of defensemen Chris Pronger and Francois Beauchemin, along with goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

The game might also have marked the Ducks' return as the NHL's team to beat.

The Ducks started the post-break schedule much like they began the season, using physical defense and rapid-fire scoring to overwhelm the Dallas Stars 4-1 on Sunday at the Honda Center.

All-Star Andy McDonald had his second two-goal game of the season to pace the Ducks, scoring their first and third goals. But it was the return of the two defenders and Giguere that seemed to energize the Ducks, who limped into the All-Star break with a 2-6-2 record.

``We haven't had those guys for a while, and it was great to see them back on the ice,'' McDonald said. ``Whenever you have guys like that come back, it really gives your team a spark.''

Beauchemin and Giguere, who had been out of action for 11games dating to Dec. 29, contributed nicely on the stat sheet in their returns.

Beauchemin, who was out with a lacerated spleen, registered an assist and logged 29:41 of ice time to lead the team.

Giguere, who suffered a groin strain, stopped 30 of 31shots, only giving up a goal on a penalty shot by Jere Lehtinen with 12:14 left in the third period.

``I was a little nervous to get back out there, but it felt good,'' Giguere said. ``I got my legs under me after a while, and that helped me relax a bit. It was fun to be back.''

Although Pronger didn't register a point, he might have provided the largest jolt of energy. Out for nine games after breaking his foot at Minnesota on Dec.31, Pronger played nearly 27 minutes and got the 17,331fans at the Honda Center rocking by mixing it up with Dallas rookie forward Krys Barch at the end of the first period.

Barch, who had already received a fighting major, picked a fight with the 6-foot-6, 220-pound Pronger, who knocked him over with a few well-placed punches, to the delight of the crowd.

Pronger sat out the first part of the second period with the five-minute penalty, but the knockdown of Barch announced his presence with authority.

``I'm not sure what he was thinking,'' said Pronger of Barch. ``He was trying to listen to the ref, and he was looking at me. I said, `Don't look at me. If you want to go, go ahead.'''

The Ducks' first two goals came 26 seconds apart midway through the first period. A wrister from McDonald beat Dallas goalie Marty Turco with 10:27 left. Dustin Penner followed with his 17th goal of the season at the 10:01 mark.

``We came out really intense and focused,'' McDonald said. ``We haven't had starts like that in a while, so to come out and play the first 20 minutes that hard was a good feeling. We gained a lot of momentum from that.''

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Ducks goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere stops a shot by Dallas' Mike Ribeiro in the third period.

Ric Francis/Associated Press