Jonathan Quick Can Change the Tide for Los Angeles Kings
Jonathan Quick looked sharp in his return, but it will take a lot more if the Los Angeles Kings want to claim a spot in the NHL playoffs
Jonathan Quick is one of the NHL's best goaltenders. He is a franchise player for the Los Angeles Kings and has been their number one goalie since 2008-09. His numbers speak for themselves, but his ability to come back from injury is even more impressive.
Quick missed 58 games this season but looked like his old self against the Anaheim Ducks. Quick stopped 32 of 33 shots and made incredible saves en route to his second win of the season.
Clearly, the Kings did not rush his return. He made acrobatic saves and showed incredible poise in dangerous situations. This was a good test in terms of health, but he needs to be this sharp moving forward if the Kings want to make the NHL playoffs.
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Kings' Capable Backups
If there is one thing the Kings always seem to have, it's strong goaltending. Despite having one of the league's best, the organizational depth has always been strong. In 2012-13 the Kings saw the very best of Jonathan Bernier and traded him to the Toronto Maple Leafs. In return, the Kings received very capable pieces in Matt Frattin, Ben Scrivens, and a second-round pick.
Scrivens went on to start 15 games while Quick was on the shelf in 2013-14. He posting a 7-5 record, with a 1.97 goals-against average, and a 0.931 save percentage. He even had three shutouts. Whatever it is about wearing the silver and black, goalies seem to perform without fail.
This season, Peter Budaj has been the de-facto number one. In 51 games, Budaj is on pace for the best season of his career. He sports a 27-20-3 record, a 2.12 goals against average, a 0.917 save percentage, and a whopping 7 shutouts.
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With the Ben Bishop trade, the Kings added an even bigger safety net than ever before. While they lose the player that helped them throughout the season, they get a much more capable goalie in return. No to mention, Quick has more than a few years left, and the Kings can worry about the next-in-line when the time is right. For now, they will do what they can to provide Quick with necessary support, and Bishop makes the Kings downright dangerous.
Quick, Kings and NHL Playoff Hopes
This is the second time the Kings have been without Quick due to injury. What happened? The Kings went on to win the NHL Stanley Cup as the Western Conference's eight seed. This season, the Kings are in a similar position, sitting fifth in the Pacific Division. With adding Bishop to the equation, the Kings have made their presence felt for the rest of the season.
As it stands, the Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues have the Wild Card spots locked down. However, the Flames will play their 63rd game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday, which gives the Kings a two-game advantage. Not to mention, the Blues have looked questionable at times, losing their most recent game to the Florida Panthers 2-1. They are now on a two-game losing streak but are 7-3-0 in their last 10.
In terms of numbers, and luck, the Kings seem to be the favorite. They have the best goalie of all three teams, acquired the best insurance marker possible with Bishop, and have a plethora of experience in similar situations. With 21 games left, the Kings are hoping Quick can stay healthy, and help them return to past glory.
