Jonathan Bernier will continue to shoulder starting duties for Anaheim tonight -- and for the foreseeable future.
Bernier will start his seventh straight game tonight in place of the injured John Gibson, who hasn’t played since Feb. 20 due to a lower-body injury. Gibson, who is traveling with the Ducks on their current road trip, has been ruled out of tonight’s game against Chicago and Friday’s tilt in St. Louis.
As for Bernier he’s been good, but not great, since assuming the No. 1 job. He’s 3-2-0 in his last five with a .916 save percentage, which is an upgrade on his overall numbers for the year (.904 save percentage, 2.85 GAA).
This is a pretty crucial stretch for both player and organization. Bernier’s a UFA at season’s end and not expected to be back in Anaheim, so he’s essentially auditioning for a job. The Ducks, meanwhile, have watched Calgary catch up to them in the Pacific Division standings -- heading into tonight’s tilt, the Flames are just two points back for third place.
For Chicago, Corey Crawford starts in goal.
Elsewhere...
-- Henrik Lundqvist is hurt, so Antti Rannta gets the call in Carolina. He’ll be backed up by ECHL recall Brandon Halverson. For the ‘Canes, Cam Ward is in net after Eddie Lack started the last two.
-- Michal Neuvirth goes for Philly in a huge game in Toronto. Frederik Andersen counters for the Leafs.
-- Andrei Vasilevskiy, who’s been great since securing the No. 1 gig in Tampa following Ben Bishop’s departure, gets the call when the Bolts host the Wild. Devan Dubnyk, in a bit of a slump having lost three of his last six, goes for Minnesota.
-- Mike Condon gives Craig Anderson a night off as the Sens travel to Arizona. Mike Smith, who’s lost four straight, starts for the Coyotes.
-- Good matchup in Calgary as the in-form Brian Elliott and the Flames host Carey Price and the Habs.
-- It’s Cory Schneider versus Calvin Pickard as the Devils take on the Avs in Colorado.
-- Thomas Greiss, coming off a 27-save win in Edmonton on Tuesday, goes right back in for the Isles. The host Canucks are going with Ryan Miller, as Jacob Markstrom is still out injured.
-- Another scintillating matchup, this time in San Jose: Martin Jones and the Sharks host Braden Holtby and the Caps.
-- Jonathan Quick, who was terrific in a shootout win over the Leafs last week, draws back in for the Kings tonight. He’ll be up against Pekka Rinne, who was equally good in Nashville’s shootout loss to the Ducks on Tuesday (39 saves on 42 shots).