DALLAS — The inclination would be to go right back to goaltender John Gibson after his 39-save performance in the Ducks’ 2-1 overtime loss to the Nashville Predators earlier in the week.
But Coach Dallas Eakins explained why he went with Anthony Stolarz against the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.
“We’ve got to get Stolie some starts,” Eakins said after Thursday’s morning skate. “Gibby’s been – well, at one point, as sick as a dog. He’s kind of coming out of it. Had a great game the other night. It was one of those games where you’d like to run him again, but I feel like we might be digging a hole just in his recovery and how sick he’s been.
“He’s been an absolute warrior.”
Gibson was suffering from a virus during Thanksgiving week, an illness making its way through the Gibson household.
“He never took any time off – got in the net and practiced and just kept battling away,” Eakins said. “You’ve got to be cautious. That’s what is hard. He plays so well and it’s like, ‘Let’s go again.’ We’ve got another guy and Gibby’s been sick. I want him to get totally healthy.”
ON HOLD
And so, the Stars’ tribute video to defenseman John Klingberg will have to wait. Klingberg, who had played his entire NHL career with the Stars (eight seasons, 552 games) before signing with the Ducks as a free agent in July, remains out of action with a lower-body injury.
There is a chance he could join the Ducks later on this trip, which wraps up Saturday in Minnesota and Sunday in Winnipeg. In 20 games, Klingberg has eight points (one goal, seven assists) and is a minus-12.
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The Ducks have another game in Dallas scheduled for Feb. 6. The burning question: Will Klingberg still be with the Ducks?
ALSO
Defenseman Colton White, who has been quietly effective on the third pair, was a healthy scratch against the Stars. He had been a consistent fixture in the lineup since Nov. 12. Taking his place on Thursday was defenseman Nathan Beaulieu, who was a healthy scratch in Nashville on Tuesday.
STAR TURN
With his first-period goal, Dallas forward Jason Robertson became the first NHL player to hit the 20-goal mark this season. It was a meaningful accomplishment on another level as Robertson became the first Stars player in 29 years to score 20 goals by the 24-game mark. Hall of Famer Mike Modano did so in 1993-94 on his way to a 50-goal, 93-point season.