Jonathan Bernier to the rescue.

After a sluggish start to the season, the Anaheim Ducks goaltender became the starter in February when John Gibson was lost to a lower-body injury.

Bernier has excelled with the busier workload. He's undefeated in regulation over his five starts since March 7, and no netminder has performed better than Bernier over his last five games:

Bernier chalks up his improved performance to his increased usage.

"I think when you play a lot, you just see the play before it happens, and the game just seems a lot easier," Bernier told Curtis Zupke of the Los Angeles Times. "You don't think, you just execute, and that's what happens when you start playing a lot more.

"Then you build confidence off those games, and by playing more, you feel confidence in yourself and your abilities to makes those saves."

Bernier's appeared in 31 games in his first season with the Ducks, putting together a 13-7-3 record with a .915 save rate. His recent showing has pushed Anaheim to second in the Pacific, just six points back of the division lead.

Ducks head coach Randy Carlyle is also confident that Bernier can hold down the fort while Gibson inches closer to a clean bill of health.

"The way Bernie's played - Bernie's earned that opportunity and he's given us real solid goaltending here over the last little while," Carlyle said. "Right now, why would you look in any other direction?"

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