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Jonathan Quick’s Sparkling Start Significant For Rangers Cup Ambitions

By Conor Power

EDMONTON, CANADA - OCTOBER 26: Jonathan Quick #32 of the New York Rangers celebrates his shut out against the Edmonton Oilers with Erik Gustafsson #56 on October 26, 2023 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Lawrence Scott/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, CANADA - OCTOBER 26: Jonathan Quick #32 of the New York Rangers celebrates his shut out against the Edmonton Oilers with Erik Gustafsson #56 on October 26, 2023 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Lawrence Scott/Getty Images) /
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EDMONTON, CANADA – OCTOBER 26: Jonathan Quick #32 of the New York Rangers celebrates his shutout against the Edmonton Oilers with Erik Gustafsson #56 on October 26, 2023, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Lawrence Scott/Getty Images)
EDMONTON, CANADA – OCTOBER 26: Jonathan Quick #32 of the New York Rangers celebrates his shutout against the Edmonton Oilers with Erik Gustafsson #56 on October 26, 2023, at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Lawrence Scott/Getty Images) /

If I told you a month ago that Jonathan Quick would have played in three games for the New York Rangers, starting two and only allowing one goal, you rightfully would have wanted me to be mentally examined. However, the sporting world we love is a weird one, and that is indeed the situation we find ourselves in now.  It’s a strange world we live in.

After his shutout over the high-flying Edmonton Oilers, the impact that Quick can have on the Rangers roster is enormous. It’s not so much in the way he plays but the fact that he can play consistently. Quick currently has a .982 save percentage and a 0.41 goals-against average. If he sustains this, he’ll win the Vezina as a backup. It’s unrealistic to think this will be the case for the entire season.

However, the Milford, Connecticut native has proved many people concerned about the netminder wrong. As long as he remains a viable option for the Rangers, Quick will allow the Rangers to rest star netminder Igor Shesterkin. Igor is going to be the reason this Rangers team sinks or swims. It’s no secret the Blueshirts live and die on the back of the Moscow, Russia native. Allowing him to rest and be fresh for the postseason could be huge.

Another reason Quick’s incredible start to life as a Ranger is also vital because of what else it allows Igor to do. Igor currently has a .897 save percentage and a 2.66 goals-against average. That’s not great for any netminder, let alone the former Vezina winner. Allowing Igor to take some time off and correct whatever is wrong with a capable backup like Quick is proving to be will mean so much for the postseason.

This will likely be the kiss of death, and Quick will revert to what he was in LA as a shell of himself. However, if he can maintain this and prove that Chris Drury was right to take the gamble on the former Conn Smythe winner, it could make a significant difference during playoffs. You always want to rest your best players where possible, and the Rangers could do that with the best netminder in the league.

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