Ducks end four-game skid with 4-2 victory over Blue Jackets in John Gibson’s return
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — John Gibson made 38 saves, Brett Leason and Jackson LaCombe each scored their first goals of the season and the Anaheim Ducks ended a four-game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday night.
Gibson made his season debut after having an emergency appendectomy in September.
The Ducks got off to a fast start when Leason scored 3:13 into the game off a feed from Cutter Gauthier.
Columbus tied it late in the first period when Yegor Chinakhov scored his fourth goal of the season. Anaheim grabbed a 2-1 lead at 4:22 of the second period when LaCombe converted off a loose puck.
Leo Carlsson scored for the Ducks with 9:40 left in the game, but the Blue Jackets moved back within a goal on a shot from the slot by Kirill Marchenko with 3:03 left.
Isac Lundestrom scored into an empty net to put the game away.
Takeaways
Blue Jackets: Jack Johnson played in his 1,200th career NHL game, while Zach Werenski became the fourth defenseman to play in 500 career games with Columbus. Werenski assisted Chinakhov’s goal
Ducks: The veteran Gibson showed little rust in his season debut, starting off with a win. Gibson is in his 12th season with Anaheim and last had a winning record in the 2018-19 season.
Key moment
The Ducks took the lead for good early in the second period after LaCombe scored a rebound off the stick of teammate Troy Terry.
Key stat
The Ducks were giving up an average of four goals per game during their four-game losing streak before they delivered a much-needed standout defensive performance.
Up next
Columbus plays at Seattle on Tuesday, while the Ducks are home against the Golden Knights on Wednesday.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
By DOUG PADILLA
Associated Press
