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.
Gibson has played tremendously of late but will be seriously put to the test on Friday against the Florida Panthers. In his last four games (3-1-0), Gibson has been brilliant, saving 118 of 124 shots (.952 SV%), his best stretch of play this season. That said, the Ducks, who will be without Trevor Zegras and Leo Carlsson, are +149 home underdogs against a Panthers team that, despite losing 2-1 to the Los Angeles Kings last night, has won five of their last six games (5-1-0).
Karlsson will get the night off Friday vs. Florida as Anaheim continues the 18-year-old's load management plan. The Ducks' star prospect has been sensational in his first NHL season, with six goals, two assists, 23 SOG, four PIMs and a -3 plus/minus through 11 games played.
Luneau was originally assigned to San Diego (AHL) for a conditioning loan but has been recalled to Anaheim Friday. The 19-year-old defensemen was Anaheim's 2022 second-round pick (53rd overall) and returns to the NHL where he appeared in two games earlier in the season and failed to pick up a point while averaging 15:28 TOI.
Dostal will be in net for the tail-end of Anaheim's back-to-back after starter John Gibson got the nod in Nashville on Tuesday. It's Dostal's first start since surrendering five goals on 35 shots in a 6-3 defeat to the Flyers last Friday. Dostal owns a 5-2-0 record on the year to go along with his .910 SV% and 3.15 GAA. He draws a difficult assignment on Wednesday with the Ducks being +240 underdogs in Colorado.
This is presumably just a chance for Carlsson to rest as the Ducks have stated they plan on managing his workload early in the season. The 2023 second-overall pick is off to a great start to his rookie season, piling up six goals and two assists in his first ten games. Look for Carlsson to return to the lineup for Wednesday's game in Colorado.
Gibson will start for the second consecutive game on Tuesday when the Ducks take on the Nashville Predators. Gibson has been stellar in November, saving 89 of 93 shots (.957 SV%) in three games (2-1-0) and, on the season, is currently matching his career-best save percentage set in the 2017-18 season (.926). The Ducks are rolling lately, winning seven of their last nine games (7-2-0), but are +154 road underdogs against a Predators team that has lost three straight (0-3-0), being outscored 17-10.
Duck coach Greg Cronin announced that Zegras has been dealing with a lower-body issue for some time, which could be part of the reason for his sluggish start to the 2023-24 campaign. The talented forward has seen his ice-time drop nearly a full minute since last season and has only scored two points (1G / 1A) in 12 games thus far. The Ducks have not given an expected timeline on Zegras' return.
Gibson will reclaim his spot between the pipes on Sunday after Lukas Dostal got the nod against the Flyers on Friday. Gibson will be happy to draw a favourable home matchup on Sunday given how hard-pressed his luck has been on the year to date. The 30-year-old netminder owns a 2-4-0 record despite posting an impressive .921 SV% and a 2.41 GAA. Gibson and the Ducks are sizable favourites at -190 to pick up the victory over the Sharks, though they will have to find a way to get the puck passed a red-hot Mackenzie Blackwood.
Dostal will return to the Ducks' crease on Friday after watching John Gibson save 64 of 67 shots (.955 SV%) over the past two games (1-1-0). To that point, Dostal had outplayed Gibson on the season, but still has stellar numbers, boasting a 2.80 GAA and .920 SV% through six games (5-1-0). The 23-year-old Czech goaltender will look to extend his winning streak to five games as the Ducks take on a Philadelphia Flyers team that ranks in the bottom half of the league offensively (2.92 GF / GP) and will be without their starting goalie, Carter Hart.
Duck coach Greg Cronin announced that Zegras has been dealing with a lower-body issue for some time, which could be part of the reason for his sluggish start to the 2023-24 campaign. The talented forward has seen his ice-time drop nearly a full minute since last season and has only scored two points (1G / 1A) in 12 games thus far.
Fabbri was kept out of the lineup Thursday for precautionary reasons, easing him back into action after returning from missing 11 games due to a lower-body injury. In his return on Tuesday, he played 12:42, skating alongside Joe Veleno and Daniel Sprong, did not register a shot or point, and had a -2 plus/minus rating.
Fabbri returned to the Red Wings roster on Tuesday after being activated from the injured reserve, held without a point, playing only 12:42 time-on-ice as the team attempts to ease him in after missing 10 consecutive games. In his return, he skated on the third line alongside Joe Veleno and Daniel Sprong. He will miss Thursday vs. Montreal as he eases his way back into things after his injury.
Fabbri returned to the Red Wings roster on Tuesday after being activated from the injured reserve, held without a point, playing only 12:42 time-on-ice as the team attempts to ease him in after missing 10 consecutive games. In his return, he skated on the third line alongside Joe Veleno and Daniel Sprong.
