REGINA TOUGH

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Ryan Getzlaf wore the strain all over his exhausted face. In the past 51 hours or so, he had taken a slap shot to the jaw, attended the birth of his third child and propelled the Anaheim Ducks to two gritty playoff victories.

Getzlaf figures he has all summer to rest. He’s too busy polishing his reputation as a dominant scorer and an equally formidable leader in another narrow win over the Dallas Stars.

The Regina, SK product had a goal and an assist while wearing a facemask over his injured jaw, Corey Perry scored his first playoff goal in three years, and the Ducks beat Dallas 3-2 Friday night to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round series.

“It’s been absolutely incredible couple of days,” Getzlaf said. “They were a little hectic, but these are the things you want to do in life. At least tonight I didn’t get hit in the face.”

Rookie Frederik Andersen made 34 saves in his second post-season start, and Andrew Cogliano scored a short-handed goal in the third period before the Ducks survived Dallas’ late flurry to move halfway to their first series victory since 2009.

Game 3 is Monday in Dallas.

Anaheim has won just one post-season round since its only Stanley Cup title in 2007, back when Getzlaf and Perry were supporting players. The Ducks are their team now, and the dynamic duo led Anaheim to another victory despite committing a couple of late penalties.

“Every once in a while, you need your best players to step it up when the rest of the guys lose their composure,” Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau said. “Getzy, with what happened to him in the last three days, to come in and get two points and a plus-3 rating, is a sure reason why he (should be) hopefully nominated for the MVP.”

Getzlaf was clobbered by Tyler Seguin’s shot in the final minute of Game 1, leaving him with alarming bruises and a ragged cut. His wife then gave birth to a daughter named Willa early Friday morning before sending him home to rest for Game 2.

None of it could stop Anaheim’s captain from getting back in the lineup with a clear facemask around his jaw and mouth in a prudent concession by a player who doesn’t like even wearing a visor. After a raucous pregame ovation from an Orange County crowd that recognized his toughness, Getzlaf then scored a first-period goal and set up Cogliano’s electric short-handed goal.

“He’s an unbelievable player, and he’s a great captain,” Cogliano said. “He’s pretty easy to follow.”