NEW YORK: Anaheim goaltender John Gibson survived a late Los Angeles rally as the Ducks eked out a 4-3 Game Five victory over the Kings yesterday to edge ahead in their Western Conference semi-final.
The 20-year-old Gibson made 39 saves in just his second post-season start to give the Ducks a third consecutive win against the Kings and a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Anaheim, on home ice, appeared in firm control with a 4-1 lead in the second frame, before Marian Gaborik scored late in the period and added another in the third to pull Los Angeles within a goal of tying the game.
Gaborik now has eight play-off goals.
But Gibson, who made his playoff debut in Game Four and has yet to lose in five starts for the Ducks, withstood the pressure to position his team one win from the West finals.
“To win four games against this team is going to be the toughest job our team ever had,” Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau told reporters. “They’re such emotional games when you’re playing the Kings. It’s hard to keep everybody calm on the bench when the crowd is going nuts and the play is pretty fast and furious.”
Devante Smith-Pelly netted a pair of goals for Anaheim.
REUTERS
