JOHN GIBSON had 31 saves in goal for the Anaheim Ducks in their 3-1 win Thursday over the Calgary Flames (Photo by Bridget Samuels).

By Pete Zarustica

The best offense is often a good defense, and John Gibson helped prove that adage Thursday night as he made 31 saves in goal in the Anaheim Ducks’ 3-1 win over the Calgary Flames on Thursday.

“We knew we needed to win,” Gibson said. “We had to do what we had to do, and we executed.”

That win improved the Ducks’ record to 18-12-7, good for 43 points and third place in the NHL Pacific Division. It also snapped a three-game losing streak for Anaheim.

After falling behind 1-0 in the first period, the Ducks tied it at 1-1 on Antoine Vermette’s power play goal at 6:16 of the second period. Anaheim ahead at 5:37 of the third period on Jakob Silfverberg’s goal, his 11th of the season. Rickard Rakell got an insurance tally at 8:30 on a power play. Ryan Kesler ended up with two assists on the night.

On Friday, the Ducks will visit the Canucks (15-18-3) at Rogers Center in Vancouver.

ALSO, the Los Angeles Kings lost 3-1 to the Edmonton Oilers, their third straight loss.