Ducks Moving in Right Direction : Hockey: Grueling skating session credited with getting the team focused on the basics, which proves handy against the Sharks.

ANAHEIM — Only Bonnie Blair would have enjoyed the Mighty Ducks’ practice Thursday morning. The players skated in circles for the better part of 90 minutes, looking more like speedskaters than hockey players.

Rest assured, this was not meant to be conditioning. Coach Ron Wilson made it clear the Ducks were being punished for their wretched play during a losing streak that reached a season-high five games with Wednesday’s 7-1 loss to the Kings.

“A message,” Wilson called it.

Friday, the Ducks showed they had heard Wilson loud and clear, coming from behind to defeat the San Jose Sharks, 4-2, at The Pond.

“A heroic performance,” Wilson called it.

Any grousing--and there had been some after the loss to the Kings--apparently had been left at home when they faced the Sharks, a team that drilled the Ducks, 7-4, Dec. 19 at The Pond.

Garry Valk, for one, said the Ducks deserved Thursday’s skate-a-thon.

“That was the first time I’ve done that in the pros,” Valk said. “Sometimes I think you lose touch with what got you here [to the NHL]. It’s a common thing in college and juniors. If you don’t play well you get skated.

“I think we were all surprised by it. It was a good thing he did it. We need to get back to basics.”

Duly motivated, Valk scored two third-period goals, including what turned out to be the game-winner at 14:04. He also added an empty-net goal in the game’s final minute.

Valk hadn’t scored since recording an empty-netter in the Ducks’ 6-3 victory over Pittsburgh on Dec. 13.

The goal that gave the Ducks a 3-2 lead Friday was accomplished with a bit more hard work. Wilson said it was almost flawlessly executed--from defenseman David Karpa’s dump into the Shark zone to Valk’s finish.

The puck went from Karpa to Alex Hicks, who sent it back to Karpa, who fed Paul Kariya behind the end line. Kariya went one direction and so did the Sharks. He reversed direction and three Sharks closed in. Valk took a step backward, Kariya slipped the puck to him, wide open in the slot.

And in a flash, it was behind San Jose goalie Chris Terreri.

“He sees the ice so well,” Valk said of Kariya. “I moved over and he stuck right with me. The pass was right on my tape. It’s nice to get a goal like that.”

Valk said movement was the key in getting open. He knows Kariya will find him if he’s free, but sometimes getting clear has been difficult.

“What I’ve been doing too much is standing still,” said Valk, who scored his sixth and seventh goals this season.

With an inspired performance and a victory to boot, where do the Ducks go from here? Are their woes behind them?

“This helps our team out a lot,” Valk said. “We’ve still got a ways to go. I’d still consider us a fragile team right now. We’ve got to stick to basics.”