Anaheim Ducks News

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.

Husso did not play on Sunday and has mostly served as a backup since the emergence of Alex Lyon, but is coming off his best performance in over a month, saving 25 of 27 shots (.926 SV%) in a 5-2 win over the Boston Bruins on Friday. His terrific performance against the Bruins might be hard to replicate on Wednesday, as the Red Wings are expected to be without Dylan Larkin and are facing off against the New York Rangers, who have only two regulation losses in the last five weeks (13-2-1).

Bailey has been rewarded with a one-year, two-way contract after a solid start with the San Jose Barracuda (AHL), tallying 11 points (6G / 5A) in 16 games. His signing corresponds to the news that Filip Zadina has been placed on the injured reserve. Bailey has played 82 games at the NHL level, most recently with the Vancouver Canucks in 2021-21.

LaCombe will be a healthy scratch for the first time this season on Wednesday as he heads to the press box vs. Montreal for Tristan Luneau. The 22-year-old rookie has enjoyed an up-and-down 2023-24, with three assists, 15 SOG, 12 PIMs, and a -10 plus/minus in 18 games played thus far.

Luneau was not originally set to appear in Wednesday's game vs. Montreal but due to it coming against his hometown club will draw back into the Ducks' lineup. The 19-year-old appeared in two games for the Ducks in October of this season and failed to pick up a point while collecting a SOG and a -1 plus/minus rating.

After an early-season stretch that saw the Ducks evenly splitting time between Gibson and Lukas Dostal, Gibson will start for the fifth time in the team's last six games. It's no surprise Gibson has taken control over the Ducks' crease as the 30-year-old goaltender has been tremendous this season, highlighted by allowing only 11 goals in his last six appearances (3-3-0) along with a .942 SV%. The Ducks are slight -111 home favourites against a Montreal Canadiens team that has scored two or fewer goals in three of their last four games (0-4-0).

Harkins has four goals, five assists, 10 PIMs and a +1 plus/minus in 11 games played with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and has been recalled for a second time this season Tuesday. The 26-year-old was claimed off waivers by the Penguins earlier this season and appeared in four games but failed to pick up any points.