NHL Daily Power Play Recap 12/1/15: Ducks defeat Vancouver, 4-0

For the latest NHL news, check out The DSH's Daily Power Play Recap below:

GIBSON, DUCKS CLOSE NOVEMBER ON HIGH NOTE

John Gibson turned aside all 25 shots he faced to earn his third career shutout (first this season) and help the Ducks close November with an 8-4-3 record following a 1-7-2 start to the campaign.

Gibson also picked up a shutout in his only other appearance against the Canucks, in his NHL debut on April 7, 2014 at VAN (18 SV).

Gibson, a second-round selection (39th overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft, improved to 18-9-1 in 30 career appearances (2.36 GAA, .921 SV%, 3 SO). That includes a 2-1-1 record in four outings this season (1.82 GAA, .936 SV%, 1 SO).

The Ducks improved to 10-1-2 in their last 13 games against the Canucks dating to April 25, 2013 (VAN: 3-7-3).

KINGS' GREENE TO HAVE SHOULDER SURGERY

Los Angeles Kings defenseman and assistant captain Matt Greene will have shoulder surgery on Thursday and is out indefinitely Kings GM Dean Lombardi announced today.

The 32-year-old Greene is a 6-3, 229-pound native of Grand Ledge, Mich. who appeared in three games earlier this season, going scoreless with eight penalty minutes. He has appeared in 589 games during his NHL career with Los Angeles and Edmonton, posting 78 points (16-62=78) and 644 penalty minutes.

The Los Angeles Kings continue a four-game home stand tonight at STAPLES Center, playing host to the Vancouver Canucks tonight at 7:30 pm on Fox Sports West and KABC 790 AM.

2016 NHL ALL-STAR FAN VOTE OPENS TODAY

The 2016 NHL All-Star Fan Vote opens worldwide today at 12:00 p.m. ET via NHL.com/Vote and mobile balloting.

As part of the new format for the 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Game, fans will cast votes for one player from each division, without regard to position. The top vote-getter from each division will be named an All-Star and team captain, with the remaining 40 All-Stars selected by the NHL’s Hockey Operations Department.

This year’s ballot includes enhanced interactive features, all designed to simplify the player search options. Fans will be permitted to select as few as one player and a maximum of four players per ballot. The maximum number of ballots cast per day for each user is 10.

Voting concludes on Friday, Jan. 1.

SPARKS SHINES FOR MAPLE LEAFS IN NHL DEBUT

Garret Sparks stopped all 24 shots he faced to record a shutout in his NHL debut and help the Maple Leafs snap a three-game skid (0-2-1).

“It all went according to plan,” joked Sparks, a 22-year-old native of Elmhurst, Ill. “After I came out of the first period unscathed, I wanted to have a good second and I got a couple of lucky posts there. Going into the third period, [the shutout] was definitely on my mind, and I just wanted to be sure that if they are going to beat me, they really had to beat me. The guys in front of me kept everything to the outside and kept everything manageable. I really have them to thank for this.”

Via Elias, Sparks became the 25th goaltender in NHL history to post a shutout in his League debut – and the first to do so with the Maple Leafs. The last goaltender to achieve that feat: San Jose’s Troy Grosenick on Nov. 16, 2014 at CAR (45 SV in 2-0 W).

Sparks, a seventh-round selection (190th overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft, spent the majority of the past two seasons with the Orlando Solar Bears (ECHL). He also compiled an 8-2-1 record (1.90 GAA, .938 SV%, 2 SO) in 11 appearances this season with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) prior to his recall last week.

RANGERS HALT SKID WITH WIN AGAINST HURRICANES

Derick Brassard registered 1-1—2, including what stood as the game-winning goal, to help the Rangers snap their three-game skid (0-3-0).

The Rangers improved to 18-1-0 in their last 19 games against the Hurricanes dating to Feb. 22, 2011, including eight consecutive victories (CAR: 1-12-6).

The Rangers also won their 11th consecutive home game against the Hurricanes dating to Jan. 5, 2011 (CAR: 0-8-3) – that is tied for the longest home winning streak against one opponent in franchise history (also Jan. 14, 1990 – Nov. 4, 1992 vs. PHI).

Three other Rangers players scored, including Mats Zuccarello, who has an 11-game point streak against the Hurricanes dating to Nov. 2, 2013 (1-12—13).

ISLANDERS EXTEND STREAKS VERSUS AVALANCHE

Cal Clutterbuck and Casey Cizikas each scored in the opening 10 minutes of the third period to break a 2-2 tie and help the Islanders extend their point streak to four contests (3-0-1).

The Islanders also improved to 8-1-0 in their last nine home games against the Avalanche dating to Oct. 10, 1999 (COL: 1-8-0).

Overall, the Islanders improved to 9-2-1 (19 points) against Western Conference opponents this season, the top such record of any Eastern Conference team.

Thomas Greiss made 25 saves to improve to 7-3-2 in his first 12 appearances with the Islanders (2.30 GAA, .925 SV%). He also upped his record to 5-1-0 in six career outings vs. COL (2.01 GAA, .939 SV%, 1 SO).

MONDAY’S RESULTS (Home Team in Caps)

NY ISLANDERS 5, Colorado 3
NY RANGERS 4, Carolina 3
TORONTO 3, Edmonton 0
ANAHEIM 4, Vancouver 0

TUESDAY’S ACTION (All Times Eastern)

Colorado @ New Jersey, 7:00 p.m., ALT, MSG+
Columbus @ Montreal, 7:30 p.m., FS-O, SNE, RDS
Philadelphia @ Ottawa, 7:30 p.m., TCN-PH, TSN5, RDS2
Buffalo @ Detroit, 7:30 p.m., TVAS, SNO, SNP, MSG-B, BELL TV, FS-D
Florida @ St. Louis, 8:00 p.m., FS-F, FS-MW
Arizona @ Nashville, 8:00 p.m., FS-A+, FS-TN
Minnesota @ Chicago, 8:00 p.m., NBCSN, CSN-CH
Dallas @ Calgary, 9:00 p.m., FS-SW+, SNW
Vancouver @ Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m., SNP, FS-W
Pittsburgh @ San Jose, 10:30 p.m., NBCSN, ROOT

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services