Ducks forward Derek Grant scoffed at the very idea.

Or maybe it was laughter mixed with a hearty guffaw.

Either way, Grant made it clear what he thought of the premise of the question.

Have you heard suggestions that John Gibson isn’t an elite goaltender anymore? Some pundits have argued that the only reason Gibson was selected for the All-Star Game was that the Calgary Flames didn’t want Jacob Markstrom playing in such an offensive-dominated exhibition.

“Obviously, they’re not watching if that’s what they’re saying,” Grant said via Zoom after the Ducks’ 5-1 victory Friday over the Tampa Bay Lightning. “He’s one of the best guys I’ve played with. Teammates. Goaltenders. He’s elite, and there’s a reason he’s an All-Star, and he deserves to be, probably, every year. Even when we’re not winning games, he’s still standing on his head. It takes a team effort to play in front of him and reward him with some goals like we did.”

Gibson sat out for five games while awaiting a negative test for COVID-19, five games that underscored his importance to the Ducks, five games that illustrated why they need him desperately if they are going to continue their unlikely charge toward their first playoff appearance since 2017-18.

The Ducks went 1-4-0 in his absence. They were outscored 21-9 and looked nothing like the team that was challenging for first place in the Pacific Division before positive COVID-19 wreaked havoc on the lineup, sidelining almost everyone on the roster at one point or another.

When he returned, it was clear that everything was different about the Ducks, who played with renewed intensity and efficiency in a 2-0 loss Wednesday to the Western Conference-leading Colorado Avalanche and during Friday’s victory over the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Lightning.

Gibson stopped 26 of 27 shots from the Avalanche, giving up only a changeup from the slot from Colorado’s Samuel Girard before Nazem Kadri added a late empty-net goal. Gibson then stopped 32 of 33 shots from the Lightning, stopping all but Ross Colton’s shot that glanced off his mask.

Gibson, 28, has a 13-10-6 record with a 2.53 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage in 29 games this season. He’s not among the league leaders in victories, goals-against average or save percentage, but his value to the Ducks extends beyond mere statistics.

“I’m glad he’s playing for us and not the other team,” Ducks assistant coach Mike Stothers said. “He’s terrific. I’d watch ‘Gibby,’ I heard a lot about ‘Gibby,’ but you don’t really appreciate what he does for a hockey club until you see him day in, day out. We are a different team with ‘Gibby’ in the crease.”

Stothers referred to his days as coach of the Ontario Reign, the Kings’ AHL affiliate.

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WHO’S IN, WHO’S OUT?

Ducks coach Dallas Eakins remained in the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol and didn’t join the team in Boston, where it begins a five-game trip Monday. Eakins entered the league’s protocol Friday and Stothers replaced him behind the bench for Friday’s game, and will do so again Monday.

Defenseman Josh Manson and backup goalie Anthony Stolarz also remained behind, but they are the only Ducks players still in the league’s protocol. Right wing Troy Terry accompanied the team on the trip. Defenseman Cam Fowler was expected to join the Ducks as soon as Sunday night.

Left wing Adam Henrique skated with the Ducks. He has been sidelined by an unspecified lower-body injury since taking a hard check along the boards in a Dec. 1 game against the Flames. Henrique sat out Friday for the 19th game. He was still on injured reserve, as of Sunday.