The Anaheim Ducks took a chance when they decided to lean on 25-year-old goaltender Frederik Andersen and 21-year-old netminder John Gibson this season and so far it’s paid off handsomely. Andersen was superb out of the gate and while Gibson’s start wasn’t nearly as glamorous, he’s excelled lately and is the reason why Anaheim earned a 1-0 victory over Chicago tonight.
Gibson turned aside all 38 Blackhawks shots less than a week after he held the Columbus Blue Jackets to a single goal. It was his second shutout in just six career regular season games. Of course, he also silenced the Kings in his first playoff contest against them in May.
In terms of NHL games, Gibson wasn’t the less experience goaltender tonight. That distinction belonged to Scott Darling, who was playing between the pipes for Chicago after stopping 36 of 38 shots against Ottawa in his NHL debut on Sunday.
Darling was impressive in this contest, but a Ducks’ shorthanded breakaway cost him his second career NHL win:
Chicago goaltender Corey Crawford has been sidelined due to an upper-body injury, but he might be back Thursday.
Q on Scott Darling: "Solid. Big. Square. Good game." Potentially earning a permanent spot? "He gives us something to think about."
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) October 29, 2014