May 10, 2014: Anaheim Ducks’ rookie goaltender John Gibson earned a shutout in his NHL playoff debut with 28 saves in game 4 of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings.
Drafted 39th overall by the Ducks in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, John Gibson was drafted with high expectations after strong back-to-back seasons with the US National Team Development Program.
Gibson played the following two seasons for the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL, including two World Junior Ice Hockey Championship appearances with Team USA, where he captured the Gold Medal and tournament MVP in 2013.
The following season on April 7th, 2014, after playing 45 regular-season games for the Ducks’ AHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals, 20-year-old John Gibson earned a call-up and his first NHL start against the Vancouver Canucks.
And just as every goaltender dreams, the Pittsburgh-native netminder earned a shutout in his NHL debut, stopping all 18 shots against.
Gibson played 2 more regular season games, winning both, before the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs started against their division-rival Los Angeles Kings.
Down 2-1 in the series, Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau made the gutsy call to start his rookie netminder in front of NHL veterans, Jonas Hiller and Frederik Andersen.
As the title and first paragraph already stated, Gibson went onto record a shutout in his NHL playoff debut against the Kings.
Ever since John Gibson has been named an NHL All-Star twice and won 1 William M. Jennings Trophy and looks to be the franchise goaltender the Ducks hope they drafted!
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