John Gibson makes 21 saves to earn shutout as Ducks blank Oilers 1-0

Thursday, 12.31.2015 / 11:55 PM The Canadian Press

EDMONTON - John Gibson made 21 saves to record his second consecutive shutout and fourth of the season as the Anaheim Ducks extended their winning streak to three games with a 1-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday.

Ryan Getzlaf scored the lone goal for the Ducks (15-15-6), who are 4-1-1 in their last six games and also recorded a 1-0 shutout in Calgary on Tuesday.

The Oilers (15-21-3) have lost four in a row and seven of their last eight.

Anaheim scored a power-play goal with eight minutes to play in the first period, as the puck came loose during a scramble in front and Getzlaf was able to score just his third goal of the season on a backhand shot over Oilers goalie Cam Talbot.

Talbot finished the game by kicking out 30 shots for Edmonton.

The Ducks kept pressing, but Talbot was able to keep it a one-goal game, notably making a highlight-reel glove save on a point-blank shot by Sami Vatanen with five minutes left in the second period.

Anaheim held a 25-14 edge in shots after 40 minutes.

Edmonton came close with the extra attacker late in the third, but Shawn Horcoff hooked down Teddy Purcell in front to prevent a goal and the Ducks were solid in front of Gibson with the Oilers pressing on the power play to preserve the win.

The Ducks are in Vancouver on Friday to face the Canucks. The Oilers play the third game of a six-game homestand on Saturday against the Arizona Coyotes.

Notes: It was the second meeting between the two teams this season, with the Oilers recording a 4-3 overtime win in Anaheim on Nov. 11… The Ducks entered the game having scored the fewest number of goals in the NHL, just 66 this season… Edmonton defenceman Brandon Davidson returned from a rib injury, but the Oilers were still without Connor McDavid (collarbone), Rob Klinkhammer (ankle), Nail Yakupov (ankle), Oscar Klefbom (finger), Andrew Ference (undisclosed) and Iiro Pakarinen (upper body)… The Oilers returned defenceman Nikita Nikitin to Bakersfield of the AHL… Injured for the Ducks were Simon Despres (concussion symptoms) and Cam Fowler (knee).

Back to top