Jonathan Quick blanks Penguins 1-0 to get Rangers back on track
If the test of a good team is turning the page on bad losses to prevent things from snowballing then the New York Rangers passed with flying colors Wednesday.
Jonathan Quick was superb in backstopping the Rangers to a 1-0 victory in Pittsburgh to erase any ill feelings following a disappointing loss 48 hours ago against Dallas.
Quick, whose tenure as a Ranger was questioned following a disappointing preseason, stopped all 32 shots he faced for his 60th career shutout and second as a Ranger.
“I thought our guys came out and did a really good job,” head coach Peter Laviolette said. “We got ourselves a lead. I thought defensively our guys were really working and Quickie played unbelievable in net tonight.”
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New York Rangers 1 vs Pittsburgh Penguins 0
The highlight reel is full for Quick following a night like this. He made a handful of game-saving stops, but none bigger than his save on Sidney Crosby from the slot with 11 seconds left to preserve the victory heading into Thanksgiving.
“I know he’s over there and he has a little space,” Quick said of his stop on No. 87. “I tried to cut the angle down a little bit so he had a little less net to shoot at.”
Alexis Lafreniere, New York’s other big question marking following a lackluster preseason, scored his eighth goal of the year on a pretty backhand just 5:10 into the contest.
New York’s power play this season has often been the catalyst to two points. But it was the penalty kill that came up big going 5-for-5, including two in the third period with the Rangers clinging to its one-goal lead.
“We’ve been doing a great job all year,” Quick said of the PK. “Taking lanes away, blocking shots, pressure up ice. All the little things that kill an extra five or 10 seconds. It goes a long way.”
Quick’s turnaround from what could be described as a disaster of a preseason has been nothing short of spectacular. He’s now 5-0-1 and has allowed just 11 goals in seven games as a Blueshirt.
The Rangers are in Philadelphia Friday for a matinee matchup with the Flyers.
Rangers Notes
- Jonathan Quick stopped 32 shots for his 60th career shutout
- Alexis Lafreniere has 4 goals in his last 5 games (8 goals, 4 assists)
- Rangers are 10-2-1 when scoring first this season
The Rangers are off Thursday and then will take on the Flyers in Philly for a 1 p.m. ET puck drop.
Happy Thanksgiving.
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