More than a few people believe that the Los Angeles Kings managed to get this far despite Jonathan Quick, rather than because of his goaltending. After a 5-4 double-overtime win in Game 2, Quick clearly seemed to dismiss his critics, as LA Kings Insider reports.
“When you get to something like this, it’s not about statistics – it’s not about statistics any time of the year to be honest – but I think those are just kind of something that people that don’t really know the game, it gives them something to judge off of,” Quick said. “You’re going to get those high scoring games, you’re going to get low scoring games. It’s a playoff series.”
One cannot help but wonder if Quick felt the same way about statistics during his lights-out run to a 2012 Stanley Cup victory and the Conn Smythe that came with it. There’s a solid chance voters kept an eye on the numbers he put up.
Whether you look at the big picture (.906 save percentage in the postseason) or recent starts (he’s allowed 4+ goals in four of his last five games and in eight playoff games overall in 2014), things have been rocky for the 28-year-old netminder. At least individually.
Again, Quick doesn’t seem all that bothered by such factors, especially since he’s two wins away from winning his second Stanley Cup ring.
To no surprise, his teammates have his back, too.
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Reporter commenting on Lundqvist having a 4-2 lead in third... 'They have a world class goalie and so do we.' - @Willie_Mitch33
— The Mayor | Team MM (@mayorNHL) June 8, 2014
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Stats-leaning onlookers roll their eyes at “making the big save” or “timely saves,” yet that’s likely what Quick’s defenders would point to. A great example is Quick finding a way to stop a Brad Richards one-timer, a moment that’s actually captured in this post’s main image.
Feel free to pick through the goals he allowed and saves he made in the Game 2 highlight reel ... even if Quick doesn’t seem to care what his critics think.