Ducks 1 - 0 Blackhawks
Final
  for this game

Gibson, Ducks latest to silence Blackhawks offense

Oct 29, 2014 - 4:58 AM Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Devante Smith-Pelly's third-period short- handed goal and 38 saves from John Gibson led Anaheim to a 1-0 victory over Chicago at United Center.

Gibson improved to 5-1-0 for his career and recorded his second shutout for the Ducks, who have won eight of their first 10 games on the season.

The clean sheet comes hours after the club revealed that defenseman Ben Lovejoy will miss anywhere from 6-to-8 weeks after suffering a broken finger in his right hand during a fight with San Jose's Joe Pavelski on Sunday.

Scott Darling was the hard-luck loser after making 24 saves for the Blackhawks, who have scored two goals or fewer in six of their first nine outings this year.

"It's never fun to get shut out at home but we'll move past this one ... and try and have that breakthrough we're looking for offensively," said Chicago captain Jonathan Toews.

After several close calls on Gibson during a Chicago power play, the visitors picked up the game's first and only goal with 8:28 left in regulation.

Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook stumbled as he tried to corral a pass at the blue line, then an alert forechecking Smith-Pelly swooped in alone up the middle and beat Darling with a backhander between the pads.

"I know he's a big goalie, so I wanted to get him moving side to side and it squeaked through," Smith-Pelly said.

Ducks defenseman Sami Vatanen was sent off for tripping with 2:35 left, and Darling was pulled for an extra attacker a short time later. The hosts didn't come up with many quality chances for the remainder of regulation.

Niklas Hjalmarsson rang a shot off the right post from the point roughly seven minutes into the contest, a chance which echoed the tenor of the first two scoreless periods.

Darling made 20 saves and Gibson right behind with 19 as both goaltenders ensured neither side capitalized.

Game Notes

Tuesday's contest marked the first 1-0 result between the clubs since the Ducks won by that score in Anaheim on Nov. 28, 2008 ... Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith led all players in ice time with 24:57 ... Both teams are in action Thursday, as Anaheim continues its road trip in St. Louis and Chicago heads to Ottawa.






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