Bruce Boudreau took a risk. It came with a reward. And now he looks like a genius.
The Anaheim Ducks head coach started 20-year-old rookie goaltender John Gibson in Game 4 of this second-round Western Conference playoff series with the L.A. Kings. Gibson, with three NHL regular season starts prior to Saturday, was solid, turning away all 28 shots he faced to post the shutout. Anaheim, thanks to the play of their inexperienced netminder and two quick first-period goals, got the win and has tied the best-of-seven series at 2-2.
Gibson also recorded a shutout in his NHL regular season debut, too. That was back on April 7 against the Vancouver Canucks.
“I think there’s always nerves. I think you’ve just got to control them. Once the first five minutes kind of get out of the way, you kind of start to relax a bit as the game goes on,” Gibson told Brian Engblom of NBCSN immediately after the game.
Per @EliasSports: @AnaheimDucks John Gibson (20y, 330d) is youngest goalie in NHL history to post a shutout in #StanleyCup Playoffs debut.
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) May 11, 2014
Boudreau says he just felt Gibson would give them the best chance to win. Says got great feedback from organization on the move. All agreed
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) May 11, 2014