Louis Domingue's performance on Sunday was a pleasant surprise and a reassuring sign of the New York Rangers organizational goaltending depth. The 32-year-old journeyman stepped into his first NHL start of the season and delivered a strong outing, stopping 25 of 27 shots in a 6-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center. Domingue even showed some flair by throwing his stick to make a save, which certainly caught the attention of fans. However, it's important to note that Chicago ranks offensively near the bottom of the league, so let's tone it down before considering him part of the team's future, which is why we'll grade him.
Domingue's journey to this opportunity is worth highlighting. In 14 games with the Wolf Pack this season, he has posted a less-than-stellar record of 4-9-2, with a .888 save percentage and a 3.64 goals-against average. However, his overall numbers with Hartford over three seasons are much better, with a 42-29-14 record in 87 games. He's proven himself capable of stepping up when needed, and Sunday's performance reflects the experience he has gained over a 10-year career.
Louis Domingue is out here playing street hockey, just launching his stick for the save 😂 pic.twitter.com/O7Ld6IJZ0q
— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) January 5, 2025
The native of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, QC, has had a winding road through the NHL, playing 143 games across multiple teams, including the Blueshirts, Pittsburgh Penguins, Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Arizona Coyotes. With a career record of 60-60-10, a .905 save percentage, and a 3.02 goals-against average, Domingue's numbers are solid for a goaltender who has often served in a backup role. Selected by the Coyotes in the fifth round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, he eventually signed with the Rangers in the Summer of 2022.
While Igor Shesterkin remains sidelined on injured reserve, Jonathan Quick is expected to handle most starts, but it's good to know Domingue can step in and deliver when called upon. Sunday's game might not have been against the toughest competition, but it was still an important moment for Domingue and the Rangers. If he's needed again, fans can feel confident he'll give his all to keep the team in the fight.
Domingue earns this grade for stepping up when the team needed him and delivering a performance that exceeded expectations. While the level of competition wasn't elite, his poise, .926 save percentage, and confidence in the net were precisely what the Rangers needed to secure the win.