Resurgent Jonathan Quick makes first start in Los Angeles not wearing Kings uniform
New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick will be making his return to Los Angeles as the Rangers are set to take on the Kings on Saturday night. Quick spent nearly 16 full seasons with the Kings and guided them to two Stanley Cup championships. With the Rangers on a back-to-back on Saturday and Sunday, it is expected that Quick will be given the start against his former team.
Last season, the Kings traded Quick to the Columbus Blue Jackets, who then flipped him to the Vegas Golden Knights at the trade deadline. At the time, Quick made it known that he was not happy with the trade as it was a bit of a shock to him, his teammates, and the hockey world. However, he put all of that behind him on his way to Vegas.
He would go on to win his third Stanley Cup as the back-up goaltender for the Golden Knights, and was honored with a video tribute and the reception of his championship ring on Thursday night as the Rangers were in Vegas.
Quick gave a friendly wave and showed his appreciation in this small homecoming, which will be nothing compared to the emotions he will feel on Saturday.
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Jonathan Quick returns to L.A.
In his career with Los Angeles, Quick amassed a record of 370-275-82 along with a save percentage of .911 and a goals against average of 2.46. He was the backbone of the team for many years and especially in the championship-winning seasons of 2012 and 2014. He holds nearly all goaltending records in Kings’ franchise history and will undoubtedly have his number retired when he decides to call it a career. To say it will be a strange feeling standing in the opposing crease will be an understatement.
Now suiting up for his childhood team, Quick will face the Kings as a New York Ranger. The same team that he defeated in 2014 to win his second Stanley Cup.
“I was there a long time, a lot of us grew up there,” Quick said after the Rangers morning skate Tuesday. “I have a lot of good friends there, but happy to be here now, making some new relationships and trying to help this team win hockey games.”
NHL.com
Quick has impressed all season for the Rangers in what has been quite a resurgence. He holds a record of 9-3-2 with a save percentage of .912 and a GAA of 2.49. Earlier this season, he faced the Kings at Madison Square Garden, where he made 25 saves in an impressive 4-1 win. Since starting the season 9-0-1, Quick has lost four straight, and is hungry for another victory.
The focus for Quick will be on getting New York back into the win column. After two wins against Washington and Seattle that seemed to have the Blueshirts back on track, they stumbled in Vegas, surrendering a 5-1 loss at the hands of the reigning Stanley Cup winners. In the contest, Igor Shesterkin had another underwhelming performance. He has been streaky this season and is still looking for more consistency.
Emotions will certainly be running high for Quick, who spent a large amount of his life in LA. Being drafted to the Kings in 2005 and making his debut in 2007, Quick made LA his home for the better part of 15 years.
Note: Defenseman Erik Gustafsson is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury and will miss the game versus the Kings.
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