SEATTLE — Jonathan Quick earned his first win as a Ranger in Saturday night’s 4-1 win over the Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena.
The 37-year-old netminder stopped 18 of the 19 shots he faced, including nine in the third period.
“Honestly, I’ve been getting plenty of reps at practice,” Quick said when asked about making his first start in the Rangers’ fifth game of the season. “I knew the deal coming into this season, I know who I’m playing with. I just obviously want to give him the breaks he needs and try to perform as well as possible when I get the opportunity.”
A majority of the skaters said they didn’t notice the dimmed lighting on one side of the ice that not only prompted a 10-minute delay at the start of the game, but put the whole contest in jeopardy of being postponed.
Apparently it was more noticeable to the goalies, including Quick.
Quick noted that while the darker side of the ice was apparent, it didn’t impact his ability to see the puck.
This was Quick’s second performance of the season after the backup netminder made his first official Rangers debut in relief of Igor Shesterkin in the previous game against the Predators.
“He was always kind of penciled in for [the game against the Kraken],” head coach Peter Laviolette said. “I don’t think we did a very good job in front of Shesty the other night, and I had mentioned that. The games that we’ve won we’ve done a really good job defensively. And the games we haven’t won, definitely we needed to be better. [The game against Nashville] was one of them.
“Inside of that game, and my thought process was, I think a goaltender likes to feel pucks in game situations, as well. And knowing that he was slated for today and just to make a change and try to shake the day, if we could.
“In that last game, it was a chance to get him in there also and try to feel game situations because — he has been practicing really hard — but I think a goalie likes to be in a game and get some rhythm inside the game.”
The Rangers’ lone rookie continues to demand opportunities.
Will Cuylle took reps in the bumper spot on the Blueshirts’ second power-play unit ahead of the club’s matchup with the Kraken.
The 21-year-old bumped defenseman K’Andre Miller from the group, which slid Erik Gustafsson to the point alongside Filip Chytil, Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko.
“It’s still early,” Laviolette said when asked about the change. “We’re still looking at things. I don’t think we’re glued to one thing, or one lineup or one D pair. I think we’re looking at things. He continues to play well and play the right way and it’s an opportunity for him.
“He’s been there before. We’ve worked with him a little bit on this and he was there in preseason. He’s taken reps. I think he’s been good so it’d be a good opportunity for him.”
Cuylle’s five power-play goals last season with the Hartford Wolf Pack tied for the third most on the team alongside Tim Gettinger, trailing only Ryan Carpenter’s six and Jonny Brodzinski’s seven.
Read more
