Ducks have major concern pop up with Lukas Dostal update

Prior to Friday afternoon’s tilt against the Los Angeles Kings, the Anaheim Ducks announced that goaltender Lukas Dostal will miss two to three weeks due to an upper-body injury. The 25-year-old’s ailment led to the recalling of Ville Husso on Wednesday, and now the upstart Ducks, currently atop the Pacific Division, must move forward without their No. 1 goalie who has played a big part in their resurgence so far this season. 

Who will replace Lukas Dostal?

Without Dostal, the team turns primarily to Petr Mrazek, a highly experienced backup. But in six games so far as a Duck, the 33-year-old has not been great, at least up to Anaheim’s current standards, posting a 3-3 record and a 3.69 GAA. In their first game without Dostal earlier this week, Mrázek allowed four goals in a 5-4 defeat at the hands of the Canucks. 

On the other hand, Husso played well in a small sample size when called upon last season, with a .925 save percentage. The once more-promising goaltender interestingly was signed to a two-year extension worth $2.2M, highly unusual for a third goalie set to play in the AHL, but now is the time for the Finn to prove his value to the organization. Whether necessary or not, any team with a third netminder having a pedigree such as Husso’s is impressive and is needed in times such as this. 

Sure enough, Husso is set to start Friday, thrown into action for his first NHL appearance since last April.

As Anaheim has exceeded expectations so far this season despite unfavorable defensive metrics, losing Dostál, an emerging young star, is a real test to see how sustainable their success under Joel Quenneville can be. After the tough news, the team is right back into action this afternoon against their in-state rivals, and it will be up to Mrazek and Husso, two familiar names, to backstop the team as 2025 winds down.