Joel Quenneville is returning to the NHL with the Anaheim Ducks for his first head coaching job since the second-winningest coach in league history resigned and was banned for his handling of a sexual assault scandal.

The 66-year-old Quenneville was hired by Ducks GM Pat Verbeek on Thursday for his first coaching job since his resignation from the Florida Panthers 3 1/2 years ago in the wake of his handling of the sexual assault scandal during his tenure with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Verbeek called the move “a major step forward in our process of being a perennial playoff contender” and said the team had done its due diligence.

Quenneville and Blackhawks executives Stan Bowman and Al MacIsaac were banned from the NHL for nearly three years after an independent investigation concluded that the team mishandled allegations raised by former player Kyle Beach against video coach Brad Aldrich during the team’s Stanley Cup run in 2010. The trio was reinstated last July, and Bowman became the Edmonton Oilers’ general manager three weeks later.

Quenneville’s reputation and career were badly damaged by his role in the Blackhawks’ handling of the accusations against Aldrich. After four seasons out of the sport, he is getting another chance behind the bench — this time with a franchise in the middle of a lengthy rebuilding process.

“I fully understand and accept those who question my return to the league,” Quenneville said. “I know words aren’t enough. I will demonstrate (by) my actions that I am a man of character.”

Quenneville takes over a team that has missed the playoffs for seven consecutive seasons, the third-longest active absence in the NHL. Anaheim finished sixth in the Pacific Division this season at 35-37-10 after being in the bottom two for the previous four consecutive years.

He replaces Greg Cronin, who was fired at the conclusion of his second season in which he led the Ducks to a 21-point improvement.

Quenneville led the Blackhawks to Stanley Cup championships in 2010, 2013 and 2015. His 969 career victories are the second-most in NHL history, trailing only Scotty Bowman’s 1,244.

Capitals 3, Hurricanes 1: Connor McMichael, Tom Wilson and John Carlson scored, Logan Thompson made 26 saves and Washington beat visiting Carolina in Game 2 on Thursday night.

After a slow first period, the Eastern Conference regular-season champion Capitals started to look more like themselves as the game wore on, dictating their style and not getting hemmed in their end for long stretches. That was essential after they were they were thoroughly outplayed in the opener.

Shayne Gostisbehere scored for Carolina and Frederik Andersen made 18 saves.

Stars 3, Jets 2: Mikko Rantanen scored a natural hat trick in the second period and Dallas won at Winnipeg in Game 1 of its second-round playoff series late Wednesday.

Nino Niederreiter and Mark Scheifele scored for the Jets, who had a four-game home win streak snapped.