Anaheim Ducks News

Dostal will get the start for the first time since November 26th, breaking a run of four consecutive starts for John Gibson. After a strong start to the season, Dostal has struggled of late, registering an ugly .787 SV% across his last three starts, losing all three decisions. He owns an .878 SV% and a 4.30 GAA on the season. Dostal couldn't ask for a better matchup to get back in the win column on Thursday as the Ducks are set to take on the lowly Blackhawks.

Kreider is dealing with a lower-body concern that kept him from practising on Thursday. Kreider has not missed any time but only has two points (1G / 1A) in his last five games and eight shots on goal. He has also seen his hit production decrease significantly this season, averaging only 0.88 hits per game, the least since his rookie season when he averaged 1.57 hits per game.

Gibson has been a workhorse between the pipes for the Anaheim Ducks lately, starting seven of their last eight games, appearing in all of them, and will start again on Tuesday. The Ducks are 1-7-0 in their last eight, with Gibson posting an undesirable .884 SV% in the process. The Ducks only win over that stretch game in their most recent outing, a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche, where Gibson saved 34 of 37 shots (.919 SV%). That said, the Ducks are still sizeable +236 road underdogs in a rematch against the Avalanche.

Gibson has been a workhorse between the pipes for the Anaheim Ducks lately, starting seven of their last eight games, appearing in all of them, and will likely start again on Tuesday. The Ducks are 1-7-0 in their last eight, with Gibson posting an undesirable .884 SV% in the process. The Ducks only win over that stretch game in their most recent outing, a 4-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche, where Gibson saved 34 of 37 shots (.919 SV%). That said, the Ducks are still sizeable +236 road underdogs in a rematch against the Avalanche.

McTavish left Saturday's game against the Colorado Avalanche in the first period with an upper-body injury after playing only 2:33 time-on-ice. McTavish will not travel with the Ducks for their rematch against the Avalanche Tuesday or Chicago the game after. He is having a tremendous season, scoring 21 points (10G / 11A) and 63 shots in 24 games and will be a huge loss for a Ducks team that already struggles offensively, ranking sixth-worst in the league (2.75 GF / GP).

McTavish left Saturday's game against the Colorado Avalanche in the first period with an upper-body injury after playing only 2:33 time-on-ice. McTavish will be a game-time decision Tuesday in the Ducks' rematch against the Avalanche. He is having a tremendous season, scoring 21 points (10G / 11A) and 63 shots in 24 games and would be a huge loss for a Ducks team that already struggles offensively, ranking sixth-worst in the league (2.75 GF / GP).

Gibson played well on Tuesday, saving 24 of 26 shots (.923 SV%), but as has been the case most of the season, did not receive ample goal support as the Ducks fell 3-1 to the Vancouver Canucks. The Ducks have been trending in the worst direction lately, losing seven consecutive contests and being held to two or fewer goals in six of them. The Ducks will have one of their best chances to break out of their funk on Thursday as +113 home underdogs against a Washington Capitals team that played last night and ranks second-worst in the league offensively (2.32 GF / GP).

Gudas did not play on Tuesday after exiting the previous game for the Ducks, playing only 13:02, with a lower-body injury, but is expected to return to their lineup on Thursday. Gudas, known mostly for his heavy-hitting, is pacing for his best offensive season in seven years, with seven points (4G / 3A) in 21 games. In contrast, he is averaging only 2.76 hits per game, his lowest output over the last four seasons.

Gibson will get the start on Tuesday after Lukas Dostal got the nod in Sunday's 8-2 defeat at the hands of the Oilers. Gibson is looking to snap a personal four-game losing streak, with his last victory coming on November 14th against the Predators. After a strong start to the season, Gibson's record has fallen to 4-8-0, but he still boasts a respectable .911 SV%. He draws another tough matchup on Tuesday with the Ducks being +200 underdogs in Vancouver.

Gudas has been an offensive juggernaut for his own standards in his first season in Anaheim with four goals, seven points, 37 PIMs and a +7 plus/minus but is now day-to-day with a lower-body injury. The 33-year-old bruising defender is in his 12th NHL season and has never scored more than six goals ever.