Anaheim Ducks Player Grades: John Gibson
Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
In the beginning of the season John Gibson was not on the Anaheim Ducks starting roster. Gibson appeared in 45 games in Norfolk during the 2013-14 season. He had a record of 21-17-4 with a 2.34 GAA and .919 SV%. He had five shutouts.
Frederik Andersen went down with an injury, necessitating Bruce Boudreau to bring Gibson up. He was called up to the Anaheim Ducks during the stretch run of the playoffs when the Pacific Division Title was still in doubt.
Regular Season
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
During the regular season Gibson only appeared in three games, but he exceeded all expectations. He won all three starts for the Ducks. Gibson had a GAA of 1.33 and a .954 SV%. In his first start he shut out the Vancouver Canucks.
In his second start against the San Jose Sharks he gave up two goals early, but held his own throughout the game. The Ducks won the game 5-2 and clinched the Pacific Division title for the second consecutive year.
In the season finale against the Colorado Avalanche, Gibson gave up two early goals again. However, Gibson held the fort and the Ducks were able to rally scoring two goals to send the game into overtime. The Ducks eventually won in overtime and Gibson was a perfect 3-0 in the regular season.
[table id=29 /]
Regular Season Grade: A
Playoffs
Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
When the playoffs started the Anaheim Ducks were first in the Pacific Division and Western Conference. It appeared Boudreau was going to Andersen and Jonas Hiller as his two top goalies. The Ducks beat the Dallas Stars in six games in the first round with both Andersen and Hiller.
When the Ducks faced the Los Angeles Kings, Hiller started in the first two games which the Ducks lost. In Game 3, Boudreau went with Andersen and he went down with an injury. The Ducks won the game 3-2 with Hiller finishing the game.
In Game 4, Boudreau went with Gibson who shut out the Kings 2-0 as the Ducks tied the series. Gibson again started in Game 5, which the Ducks won 4-3. Boudreau went with Gibson a third time in Game 6, but the Ducks lost 2-1.
In the Game 7 show down Boudreau rolled with Gibson for a fourth time, but he would be pulled after giving up four goals in just over one period of play. The Ducks went on to a heartbreaking 6-2 loss in what appeared to be Teemu Selanne‘s last career game.
Gibson played well in the first three games, but couldn’t come through for the Ducks in the end. It wasn’t all his fault in the final game as the Ducks defense and team as a whole played too nervous in the beginning of the game to recover.
[table id=30 /]
Playoff Grade: A-
Future
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
With Jonas Hiller’s status as an Anaheim Duck up in the air, it appears Gibson and Andersen may be competing against each other for the starting role next season.
I will be sad if Hiller is not back in a Duck uniform next season, but I have full confidence that Gibson and Andersen can play well during the regular season and playoffs next year.