Babcock Is Uncertain of Giguere’s Return

There has been a clipboard, not the Mighty Ducks’ immediate future, in goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere’s hands this past week. While Martin Gerber has continued to perform well on the ice, Giguere has charted faceoffs from the bench.

Just when Giguere will return to the ice is a question that makes Coach Mike Babcock a little uncomfortable.

“I don’t know,� Babcock said after Gerber stopped 23 shots in a 4-2 victory over Washington on Wednesday. “I haven’t thought about that. I just assume that when a guy plays and wins, you got to play him.�

Giguere has risen in the ranks as one of the NHL’s top goalies. His playoff-MVP performance became a coronation for those in the media who had ignored the Ducks until they reached the Stanley Cup finals last spring.

But for now, Gerber wins and has done so with top-flight numbers. As of Thursday, he was tops among goalies with a .953 save percentage and second with a 1.38 goals-against average -- outstanding numbers that cause some nervousness in the Duck dressing room.

Asked Wednesday if he was expecting to start the Ducks’ next game, Gerber said, “That’s not up to me,� then added, “don’t ask me that.�

The Ducks are shying away from this touchy issue, especially now that they have righted themselves from an 0-5-0-1 start. The Ducks are 4-1-1 in their last six games, with Gerber 3-0-1 in that stretch.

Babcock refused to speculate whether Giguere could return this weekend, when the Ducks play the Islanders in New York on Saturday and the Blackhawks in Chicago on Sunday.

Giguere has been working with goaltender consultant Francois Allaire this week.

“Every time I miss a game, I’m itching to get back in,� said Giguere, who has a subpar 3.14 goals-against average and .893 save percentage. “There is nothing I can do right now. I come to the rink and try to make myself better.�

Allaire said Giguere’s slow start has been a team effort. The Ducks were giving pucks to opponents as if they were promotional giveaways in the first weeks of the season.

“The team plays out there and the guy who gets the numbers is the goaltender,� Allaire said.

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The Ducks will have a collection today at the Arrowhead Pond and Disney Ice for the victims of Southern California’s fires.

Fans may drop off paper products, plastic silverware, lip balm, lotion, nonperishable food, baby products, blankets and clothing.

Monetary donations also will be collected. Checks may be made out to the Red Cross. Collection times are 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Pond and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Disney Ice.