"Maybe the best thing that could have happened for the Ducks heading into the two-week Olympic break was the fact that they were playing a second hockey game in less than an 18-hour span.

Boosted by Ryan Getzlaf's four-point night in his highly anticipated return to the lineup, the Ducks purged themselves of a dreadful effort against Calgary with a 7-3 rout of the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place on Sunday night.

It was a soothing tonic following a listless defeat that cost the Ducks (30-25-7) a chance to tie the Flames for the final playoff spot. Now they're back again within two points of Calgary, although Dallas and Detroit are also ahead of them.

The alternative to playing might have been a practice that no one would have enjoyed.

"We didn't have to have a practice after it, which probably wouldn't have been too fun," defenseman Ryan Whitney said. "We didn't play well (Saturday) night and it was a big game. But tonight was a bigger game and we bounced back.""