Gibson underwent an emergency appendectomy on September 25th and is nearing the end of his original 3-6 week timeline. The American netminder has failed to produce a save percentage above .900 in each of the last two seasons and beginning 2024-25 on the Injured Reserve is a tough way to ensure a bounce-back campaign after only 13 wins in 2023-24. Gibson will back up Lukas Dostal in Friday's game against the Wild.
Fowler played a season-low 17:11 time-on-ice in the Ducks previous game and is battling an upper-body injury. The 32-year-old Fowler is leading all Ducks, averaging 21:17 time-on-ice this season and has two points (0G / 2A) in 12 games this season.
For the fifth straight game, despite a three-game losing skid, the Ducks will turn to Dostal between the pipes. The 24-year-old Dostal has allowed nine combined goals in his last two outings (0-2-0), but has been tremendous for most of the season, boasting an impressive 2.50 GAA and .930 SV% in 10 games (4-4-2), stats that are even more impressive considering the Ducks are averaging only 2.1 goals per game, fewest in the NHL. The Ducks enter action on Friday as +174 home underdogs against the Minnesota Wild.
Urho Vaakanainen will draw into the Ducks' lineup for his second game of the season, replacing Lacombe. The 23-year-old Lacombe, Anaheim's 39th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, is averaging 17:01 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A) through six games this season.
Jackson Lacombe will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday, allowing Vaakanainen to re-enter the lineup for the first time since October 13th. The 25-year-old Vaakanainen played 68 games with the Ducks last season but has been limited to only one through 11 games for the Ducks in 2024-25.
Dostal was in the crease in Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, allowing four goals on 29 shots (.862 SV%), but the Ducks will not stray away from Dostal, starting for the fourth consecutive game. The 24-year-old Dostal has been heroic at times for the Ducks, boasting an impressive 2.22 GAA and .937 SV% through nine contests (4-3-2), totals that are even more impressive when considering the Ducks are averaging only 2.18 goals per game, fewest in the NHL. The Ducks enter the action on Tuesday as sizeable +204 home underdogs against the Vancouver Canucks, owners of a 5-2-3 record.
Luneau was the 53rd overall pick of the Ducks in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old recorded zero points a -5 plus/minus in six games with the Ducks this season.
Johnston will be the odd-man out on Thursday when the Ducks travel to Pittsburgh to face the Penguins. Brett Leason draws into the lineup in his place.
Leason re-enters the lineup in place of Ross Johnston, who is a healthy scratch. Leason has no goals and one assist in seven games this season.
Dostal is fresh off another fantastic start on Tuesday, allowing just a single goal on 41 shots against in a 3-1 victory on Long Island. The 24-year-old netminder has been one of the most underrated goaltenders in the early parts of the 2024-25 season, compiling a 4-2-1 record to go along with a ridiculous .943 SV% and 2.00 GAA. Despite the hot start, Dostal and the Ducks enter action in Pittsburgh on Thursday at +150 on the money line.
Luneau will take a seat on Tuesday as Jackson Lacombe draws back into the Ducks' lineup. Luneau is yet to register a point in six games this season.
Lacombe will re-enter Anaheim's lineup after sitting out Sunday's game in New Jersey. Lacombe has no goals and one assist in three games this season.
The Ducks will turn back to Lukas Dostal for Tuesday's game against the Islanders after James Reimer got the nod for the tail-end of their back-to-back on Sunday. Dostal has quietly put together a terrific start to the season, posting a .936 SV% and a 2.17 GAA across six appearances. He was unfortunate to be tagged with the loss his last time out, allowing just two goals on 32 shots as the Rangers edged the Ducks by a score of 2-1. He will need to be at his best again tonight with the Ducks entering action as +200 road underdogs on Long Island.
