Anaheim Ducks: Don’t Worry About Preseason Record

Goaltending

Sep 25, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks goalie

(36) makes a save in the second period of the game against the Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

All summer we heard that possibly the biggest question mark with the Ducks would be in goal. Ducks brass felt it was time to give the kids their chance and let Jonas Hiller walk in favor of the young tandem of Frederik Andersen and John Gibson. Through five games my answer for who is the No. 1 goalie is still the same as it was before these five games, I don’t know.

Andersen got off to a great start as he led the Ducks to a 27-save shutout of the Avalanche in the opening game at Honda Center. He followed that up with a 4-2 loss to the Kings on Sunday in his only other appearance this preseason. He made a number of good saves but still got the loss with was pretty much the Ducks opening night roster in my opinion playing front of him.

Through two games he is 1-1 with a 2.00 GAA and a .928 SV%. Those numbers aren’t bad, but he may be dealing with the “what have you done for me lately” line due to the 4-2 loss. Andersen has looked solid overall however and I’m wondering if Boudreau splits this game up to give each them of one last chance to prove their stock.

John Gibson has played in three games so far and has a less than stellar 0-2-1 record. He has a 3.33 GAA and a 905 SV%. Both need to be better but Gibson’s stats must also be taken with a grain of salt.

Gibson has played at least two if not all his games with an extremely young Ducks lineup that would never all be in the lineup come the regular season. He has had to deal with some less than experienced defense and been on the wrong end of some bad defensive plays. We expect better numbers from Gibson but let’s not give up on him thre games into the pre-season slate. He like Andersen will also get the nod for one more pre-season game and this one I’d imagine will feature if not the actual pretty close to the actual Ducks roster.

If pressed, I would give the nod to Andersen as No. 1 right now but I want to wait for the final preseason game before I can definitively name one guy.