New York Islanders defenseman Luca Sbisa, left, of Italy, defends, as Anaheim Ducks right wing Troy Terry overskates the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Luke Schenn, left, knocks down New York Islanders right wing Cal Clutterbuck from trying to get to the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

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New York Islanders center Jordan Eberle (7) controls the puck with pressure from Anaheim Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler (4) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Anaheim Ducks center Ryan Kesler, center, celebrates scoring a goal against the New York Islanders with right wing Kiefer Sherwood, left, during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

New York Islanders goaltender Thomas Greiss, right, of Germany, poke checks the puck away from Anaheim Ducks right wing Troy Terry, center, with defenseman Luca Sbisa, of Italy, trailing during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)



Anaheim Ducks defenseman Marcus Pettersson, right, of Sweden, poke checks the puck away from New York Islanders center Valtteri Filppula, left, of Finland, attacking with right wing Cal Clutterbuck, center, during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

New York Islanders left wing Ross Johnston, left, and defenseman Nick Leddy, right, defend against Anaheim Ducks center Joseph Blandisi, center, during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Anaheim Ducks defenseman Luke Schenn, left, collides with New York Islanders center Anthony Beauvillier, center, to displace him from the puck, in front of goalie goaltender John Gibson, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Ducks goaltender John Gibson stops a shot by the New York Islanders during the first period of Wednesday’s game at Honda Center. The Ducks won 4-1. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

New York Islanders center Anthony Beauvillier, left, and right wing Cal Clutterbuck, center, check on defenseman Johnny Boychuk’s injury, with referee Ian Walsh, right, during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)



Anaheim Ducks right wing Troy Terry, left, collides with New York Islanders defenseman Luca Sbisa, of Italy, competing for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. The Ducks won 4-1. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson, center, stops a shot by New York Islanders left wing Andrew Ladd, right, wit defenseman Josh Manson defending during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. The Ducks won 4-1. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

New York Islanders defenseman Luca Sbisa, left, of Italy, gets upended by Anaheim Ducks center Joseph Blandisi, center, with defenseman Johnny Boychuk, above right, defending while competing for the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. The Ducks won 4-1. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson, left, covers up a loose puck as Anaheim Ducks defenseman Brandon Montour, right, defends against New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal from advancing during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. The Ducks won 4-1. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson makes a stop on a shot by the New York Islanders during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. The Ducks won 4-1. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)



Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson, left, celebrates with defenseman Hampus Lindholm, of Sweden, after the Ducks defeat the New York Islanders 4-1, in an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

ANAHEIM — The Ducks’ bruises and breaks are starting to heal. Their wayward left wing has returned to the flock. It won’t be long before their lineup looks the way it was intended back when General Manager Bob Murray and Coach Randy Carlyle began making plans for 2018-19 last summer.

Injured forwards Ryan Getzlaf (groin), Ondrej Kase (concussion), Carter Rowney (upper body) and Jakob Silfverberg (finger) didn’t play in the Ducks’ 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Wednesday at Honda Center, but Murray said it wouldn’t be long before they’re back in the lineup.

In addition, less than an hour before the Ducks took to the ice and improved their record to 5-1-1, Murray signed left wing Nick Ritchie to a new three-season, $4.6-million contract, ending his contract dispute with the team. Ritchie is expected to join the Ducks for Thursday’s practice.

Murray wasn’t certain when Ritchie would make his season debut, but it’s unlikely to be Saturday against the Golden Knights in Las Vegas or Sunday against the Buffalo Sabres at Honda Center. Ritchie must get his immigration paperwork completed before he can play.

Plus, he sat out all of training camp and the season’s first seven games.

“He’ll need a few days,” Murray said.

In addition, the Ducks hope to complete the signing of defenseman Jake Dotchin to a one-season, $800,000 contract Thursday. Dotchin must clear waivers by 9 a.m. for the deal to become official. Another team could claim him before then and the Ducks would lose out on him.

Dotchin became available when the Tampa Bay Lightning waived him, unhappy with his offseason weight gain estimated at 30 to 35 pounds. Murray said he’s lost much of the weight but would need a conditioning assignment with the San Diego Gulls, the Ducks’ AHL team.

“I’ve always liked him,” Murray said. “Things just went bad in Tampa.”

There also was a great deal to like about the Ducks’ play Wednesday against New York. Ryan Kesler scored twice to give the Ducks a 2-0 lead heading into the third period, his first multi-goal game since recording a hat trick in a Jan. 1, 2017 contest against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Kesler sat out the first three games of the season while completing a long, steady offseason build-up after major hip surgery in the summer of 2017 limited him to 44 mostly ineffective games last season. His goals against the Islanders gave him three goals and four points to start 2018-19.

With the Ducks on a power play late in the first period, Kesler pounced on a rebound and swatted it home on his backhand for a 1-0 lead at 19:55. He made it 2-0 at 8:20 of the second with a shot that glanced off the stick of Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy and past goalie Thomas Greiss.

“I’ve got a little to improve on and it’s a long year, but it’s a good start,” Kesler said.

Adam Henrique scored to make it 3-0 only 42 seconds into the third period and John Gibson stopped 34 of 35 shots to improve to 4-1-1. He was 35 seconds from his second shutout of the season when New York’s Casey Cizikas scored to end his bid and trim the Ducks’ lead to 3-1.

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NHL postpones playoff games for Thursday and Friday Hampus Lindholm scored an empty-net goal off the ensuing faceoff to make it 4-1.

Soon enough, the game was done and the Ducks continued their best start to a season since opening the 2014-15 season 6-1-0 en route to an appearance in the Western Conference finals. They are second in the NHL’s overall standings, one point behind the Toronto Maple Leafs (6-1-0).

“It’s just purely coaching,” Carlyle joked. “One hundred percent.”

He paused to let the laughter die.

“It’s obviously the players,” he said, adopting a more serious tone. “We have some young guys who have provided energy. We have some veteran people. We’ve been able to formulate a group that’s still a work in progress. We know there’s lots of work ahead of us.”

"I had a goal in mind.. I wanted to prove a lot of people wrong that thought I was done. This is a good start."@Ryan_Kesler talks with @KentFrench after the @AnaheimDucks W!#LetsGoDucks | #Ducks25 pic.twitter.com/wdpZcxaOtp — FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) October 18, 2018

Now THAT is how you capitalize on a power play!@Ryan_Kesler has his 2nd goal of the season, & the @AnaheimDucks strike first late in the 1st period!#LetsGoDucks | #Ducks25 | #FOXSportsWest pic.twitter.com/NBBUBUcYs6 — FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) October 18, 2018

"We're getting better each and every game." John Gibson talks about the win & his near-shutout.#LetsGoDucks | #FOXSportsWest pic.twitter.com/fRlqTh0p4E — FOX Sports West (@FoxSportsWest) October 18, 2018