Once considered one of the NHL's top goaltenders, Anaheim Ducks netminder John Gibson has seen a few challenging seasons that have taken a toll on his status in the league.
On a recent Monday night, Gibson's Ducks faced off against the Pittsburgh Penguins. In the dying moments of the first period, Pittsburgh was on the attack, looking for the go-ahead goal.
Penguins star Evgeni Malkin delivered a precise cross-crease pass to Sidney Crosby, who had a near-open net. Crosby pulled the trigger, but in a remarkable display of athleticism, Gibson dove and executed a jaw-dropping behind-the-back save using his stick.
However, Gibson paid a price for his heroics, sustaining an injury on the play. This forced the Ducks' backup goalie, 23-year-old Czech native Lukas Dostal, to step in.
Dostal has been stellar since taking over, keeping the Penguins off the scoreboard and making 14 saves to preserve the Ducks' chances in the game.