John Gibson, who missed the last three games with a lower-body injury, is on track to return Friday. That's been the plan since the weekend, and after Reto Berra was assigned to San Diego on Tuesday, Gibson should be the starter against the Columbus Blue Jackets barring a change.
The 24-year-old has avoided long-term injury this season, but a slew of nagging ailments have combined to eliminate from games mid-session and place him on injured reserve two times this calendar year.
Gibson (2.51 goals-against average, .925 save percentage) has been stellar at times this season while leading a Ducks squad that was ravaged by injury for much of the first half.