Anaheim Ducks Should Start John Gibson

The Anaheim Ducks depart with Viktor Fasth and Jonas Hiller, turning to Frederik Andersen and John Gibson in the 2014-15 season. The question Ducks’ fans will debate this summer is who should start in net?

I would go with John Gibson as the starting goalie next season.

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Gibson made three starts at the end of the season for the Ducks with the Pacific Division still on the line. He got his first start against the Vancouver Canucks in which he shut them out with 18 saves. Bruce Boudreau then called upon Gibson again in a big game against the San Jose Sharks. Despite giving up an early goal, Gibson played well making 30 saves as the Ducks clinched their second Pacific Division title in a row.

In the season finale against the Colorado Avalanche, Gibson got the call again. This time he gave up two early goals and the Ducks were down 2-0. Gibson held the fort and the Ducks rallied to score two goals and send the game into overtime. The Ducks won in overtime with Gibson making 36 saves. Gibson was 3-0-0 with a GAA of 1.33 and a .954 SV% in those starts. The Ducks win earned them the top seed in the Western Conference for the first time in franchise history.

In the playoffs Boudreau went with Frederik Andersen in the first round against the Dallas Stars. He played well in the first two home games, but struggled on the road in Dallas. He lost Games 3 and 4 in Dallas and was pulled from Game 6. Boudreau decided to go with Jonas Hiller in the second round against the Los Angeles Kings.

After the Ducks dropped the first two games, Boudreau started Andersen for Game 3 and he played well. Unfortunately for Andersen he suffered a knee injury, which he couldn’t finish the game. The Ducks were leading and held on to win, but Andersen was done for the night and season.

In a surprise move to many, Boudreau put Gibson in for Game 4 over Hiller. The Ducks won 2-0 with Gibson posting a shutout in his first career playoff start. He had 28 saves on that night. Boudreau came back with Gibson again in Game 5 and he responded with a 39 save performance in which the Ducks won 4-3 taking a 3-2 advantage in the series. When Game 6 came, again Boudreau went with Gibson. He played well, but the Ducks lost 2-1 as the Kings forced a Game 7.

This time it is was no surprise that Gibson was in net as he played well in the three previous starts. The surprise came when the Kings scored four goals on Gibson in just over one period of play. Gibson was pulled and Hiller finished the heartbreaking night as the Ducks were eliminated.

I know most fans look at the recent past and were not happy with the result in Game 7. Some use this game as a reason to start Andersen next season over Gibson. I don’t completely agree with that idea. Sure Gibson gave up four goals, but the loss was a complete team loss. I would say Gibson was responsible for two of the goals and the team was responsible for the other two. Gibson played well in six out of seven games. I wouldn’t bench him just because of one game.

Gibson also has a calm demeanor. He was asked by Adam Brady about the Game 7 loss and he said “I think we’ll all use it for motivation for next year. I don’t think we have to worry about in a negative way, but I think we’ll use it as a positive.” I like his positive attitude moving forward next season.

Gibson will play well next season and I don’t see him giving up four goals in many games, if any. If Boudreau does decide to start Andersen over Gibson next season, then I am good with that also.

I am grateful the Ducks have two great goalies that each could be a starting goalie in the NHL. I just hope that Andersen’s knee injury has healed in the off season and he is ready to go next season.

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