Game report: Hurricanes 5, Ducks 1

Key play: Nate Thompson leveled Justin Falk with a hit to the head in the first period of the Ducks’ 5-1 loss Friday to the Carolina Hurricanes at the Honda Center, drawing an elbowing major and a game misconduct. It set the tone for a less-than-stellar showing from the Ducks.

Pivotal performer: Jeff Skinner scored a hat trick for the Hurricanes, including one in the first period on a counter-attack after a turnover in the Carolina end of the ice. Skinner raced down the right wing and fired a high shot past Ducks goalie John Gibson.

Welcome back: Goaltender Frederik Andersen played for the first time since he was sidelined by the flu Nov. 24, entering the game with the Ducks trailing 3-0 to start the third period. Gibson gave up three goals on 17 shots before he was lifted.

Quote, unquote: “I call it not being a pro,” Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaf said. “We had four days off. We should have expected to come out playing one of our best games of the year. We didn’t. You have to be able to use those breaks and use them the right way and show up to play come game time. I didn’t think we did a very good job of that tonight.”

Dropping the gloves: Getzlaf fought the Hurricanes’ Ron Hainsey late in the second period, trying to send a jolt of energy into his teammates after they fell behind 3-0. Getzlaf is an infrequent fighter and it showed against Hainsey. Call it a draw.