Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Red-hot Quick shuts door on Rangers

2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final - Game Three

NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 09: Rick Nash #61 of the New York Rangers attempts a wraparound on Jonathan Quick #32 of the Los Angeles Kings during the second period of Game Three of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Madison Square Garden on June 9, 2014 in New York, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Getty Images

All of a sudden, Jonathan Quick might not be so annoyed by his individual stats in these playoffs.

The suddenly streaking Los Angeles Kings goalie stopped all 32 New York Rangers shots in Game 3 to help his team secure a 3-0 series lead in the 2014 Stanley Cup Final on Monday. For all the negative attention the Rangers are receiving for falling within a game of being swept, there’s also the fact that Quick is suddenly showing the form that helped him win the 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy.

The 28-year-old netminder hasn’t allowed a goal since Derick Brassard scored at the 14:50 mark of the second period of Game 2. He’s been able to shut down the Rangers through the third period and double-overtime in that contest and then blanked New York in Game 3.

To put it in simpler terms, Quick stopped the last 49 shots he’s faced. Not bad for a guy who allowed 4+ goals in four of five playoff games entering Monday’s contest.

Not surprisingly, Kings head coach Darryl Sutter described Game 3 as Quick’s best performance of the 2014 Stanley Cup Final. He now has nine career playoff shutouts.

Quick’s athleticism often stands out, especially on saves like these:

For his teammates, it’s par for the course:

Overall, the American-born goalie has been streaky more than anything else. Consider how he’s trended in this postseason:

Games 1-3 vs. San Jose: 16 goals allowed, three losses
Games 4-7 vs. San Jose: five goals allowed, four wins

Games 1-2 vs. Anaheim: three goals allowed, two wins
Games 3-5 vs. Anaheim: nine goals allowed, three losses
Games 6-7 vs. Anaheim: three goals allowed, two wins

Games 1-4 vs. Chicago: 10 goals allowed, three wins and one loss
Games 5-7 vs. Chicago: 13 goals allowed, one win and two losses

Games 1-3 vs. New York: six goals allowed, three wins

It hasn’t always been pretty for Quick in this playoff run, yet he’s been brilliant during the times when he’s been on the top of his game. The Rangers have to hope that they see the “other Quick” soon, as the goalie they saw during Game 3 looked almost unbeatable.

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins