Nexen Tire High Performance Moments of the 2021-22 Season: 25-21

Following an entertaining and often thrilling season in Anaheim - full of highlight-reel goals, jaw-dropping, viral heroics and the growth of the Ducks' developing young core - AnaheimDucks.com looks back on the memorable moments of the 2021-22 campaign, starting today with numbers 25 through 21.

#25 - Simon Benoit's First NHL Goal
An undrafted, unheralded defense prospect who signed with the Ducks originally as a development camp invite,
Simon Benoit took a unique path to the NHL
.
The 23-year-old native of Laval, Quebec officially overcame those odds this season in his first full campaign on the game's brightest stage, leading Ducks blueliners in hits (168) and ranking fifth in games played (53).

Benoit officially announced his unlikely arrival early in the season at Honda Center, beating veteran netminder Craig Anderson with a long-distance shot for his first NHL goal.

"It was incredible," head coach Dallas Eakins said of the goal. "I don't know if people remember, but he came to development camp on a tryout. Then he got a tryout to rookie camp and then he got a tryout to main camp. Then he was able to sign an AHL contract. After a year or two, he got an NHL contract. Now, he's suddenly scoring his first goal. That kid's resilience, discipline and the amount of work he's put in is an unbelievable testament to him. Anyone that is looking to get better anywhere in their life should look at him. With his dedication and discipline, it's quite amazing."

"I've been working hard," Benoit added that night. "I wasn't drafted into the NHL, so I've been working really hard to get where I'm at now. That goal was really exciting."
#24 - Ducks Down Two-Time Defending Champs at Honda Center
In what Eakins called one of the club's biggest wins of the 2021-22 season, the Ducks capped a brief two-game homestand with a
5-1 triumph over the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning
at Honda Center.

Fresh off his third career All-Star Game nod, John Gibson stopped 32-of-33 shots for his 13th win of the season. Gibson was strong throughout January and his win over Tampa gave the 28-year-old a .947 save percentage (195-206) and a 2.21 goals against average in a six-start stretch.

Derek Grant led the Ducks offensively with two goals, one of the versatile veteran forward's six multi-point games this season. Grant set new career highs this season in scoring (29 points) and assists (14), and matched his personal best in goals (15).

The win also marked the first career NHL coaching victory for Ducks assistant coach Mike Stothers, who filled in for Eakins (COVID-19 protocol) behind Anaheim's bench. Stothers has worked in the NHL, AHL, OHL and WHL since beginning his coaching career in 1991.

"I thought we played a real good game. I think everybody really raised their level," Stothers said that night. "I think it was really sprinkled throughout the lineup. It started with Gibby (John Gibson) in net and works its way out. I couldn't be more impressed or happy with the guys the way they rallied and stuck together. It was a pretty good hockey game against a real good hockey club."
The night also included the return of one special former Duck. More on that later...

#23 - Gibson Sets Franchise Single-Game Saves Record
For as a good as Gibson was in Anaheim's win over Tampa Bay, he was even better in an
April meeting with the high-flying Florida Panthers
.
Facing the NHL's top-ranked offense, Gibson turned in one of the best performances of his eight-year NHL career, setting a new franchise record with 52 saves and willing the Ducks into overtime.

"That's one of the best goaltending performances that I've ever seen," Eakins said postgame. "I challenge anyone to show me a performance like that in recent history. That was incredible."
Eakins added Gibson's performance was the latest example of the goaltender's commitment to building a winning culture despite the Ducks falling out of the playoff race.

"He continues to come in every day working his tail off and preparing to win hockey games," Eakins said. "I think all of us, players, coaches and management, need to look at that and say 'that's how you come to play. That's how you prepare."
The Panthers would finally break through for the game-winning goal in overtime, earning the extra standings point in their march to the club's first President's Trophy, but not before Gibson made one more remarkable stop to keep the Ducks alive in the extra session.

Gibson finished the 2021-22 season eight among league leaders in starts (56), tied for seventh in saves (1,617), and tenth in time on ice.
#22 - Terry Leads Ducks Comeback Win over St. Louis
All-Star winger Troy Terry had plenty of memorable moments throughout his stellar breakout season, but few were better than his spectacular effort on Dec. 12 in St. Louis, when the 24-year-old cored a third-period goal to force overtime and then buried the game-winner on a penalty shot, giving the Ducks a
3-2 victory over the playoff-bound Blues
.

With Anaheim trailing 2-1 late in the third period after a go-ahead goal by St. Louis, Terry drove the net and was rewarded for his efforts, beating two Blues defenders to the loose puck and punching it home to tie the game with just over six minutes to play.

Terry then monopolized the best scoring chances of overtime, first coming inches from the winning goal on a forehand bid from the slot that rang off the post. On his next shift, Terry poked the puck away in the neutral zone and raced in on a breakaway, only to be pulled down by St. Louis' Scott Perunovich. Terry was awarded a penalty shot and made it count, beating Gillies with a backhand move to give the Ducks a 3-2 comeback win.

Terry's goal marked the third time a Ducks game has been decided on an OT penalty shot, and the first since March 2, 2011 vs. Detroit (Bobby Ryan goal vs. Jimmy Howard).

#21 - Tom Hodges, Emergency Backup Goaltender
Anaheim's 82nd and final game of the 2021-22 regular season
may have been its most bizarre. The Ducks started the season finale with Gibson in net, and the veteran netminder stopped all five shots he faced in the first period before being removed at the first intermission with an injury.
Backup Anthony Stolarz took Gibson's place for the middle frame, making eight saves in 20 minutes of action before he too had to leave the game, with a lower body ailment.

That pushed emergency backup Tom Hodges into the spotlight as the 27-year-old life insurance salesman backstopped the Ducks for the remainder of the night.

Hodges, originally from Shropshire, England, had previously played college hockey for Southern Methodist University near Dallas and briefly for the Allen Americans of the ECHL.
Wearing a Stars branded mask and green leg pads that clashed with his new Ducks jersey, Hodges made one save and gave up what was ultimately the game-winning goal, but he was just satisfied with getting through the experience.

"I'm a little out of breath, but doing alright," he said immediately after the game. "It was a little touch and go there. We weren't exactly sure, but [Stolarz] could barely walk and I had to throw my jersey on there. It was probably the most nervous I've even been in my life, but I'm just glad I didn't embarrass myself out there."

Hodges came to the States with his family at 12, the same age where he lost vision in his left eye from a freak hockey injury. He said the support he got from his new Ducks teammates helped guide him through an incredibly nerve-wracking moment.

"That's the best group of guys ever," Hodges said. "They just came up to me and tried to calm me down. They could tell I was ready to have a panic attack. They didn't care, win or lose, let in 10 (goals), just go out there and have fun. That made the whole experience a lot easier."