New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick made NHL history on Saturday, earning career victory No. 392, passing Ryan Miller for the most by a U.S.-born netminder. However, after the incredible achievement, the 17-year veteran sounded relieved to have the chase for the record in the rearview.
“You do everything you can not to think about it, but it’s there,” Quick said via Peter Baugh of The Athletic. “So it’s kind of a good feeling to get it done, over with. Focus on what’s really important: trying to win the division here, win the conference.”
Quick made 27 saves in the Rangers’ 8-5 victory over the Arizona Coyotes to set the mark. But, more notably, the win was No. 50 on the year for Blueshirts, who became the first team in the NHL this season to do so.
At 50-20-4, the Rangers lead the league with 104 points. They also lead the Metropolitan division by three points over the Carolina Hurricanes (47-21-7, 101 points).
Meanwhile, for Quick, it’s his second brush with history this season. In November, he became the first U.S.-born goaltender to record 60 shutouts after earning a 1-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Quick no longer plays the role that made him a two-time Stanley Cup champion and multiple-time winner of the Jennings Trophy, given to the netminder who allows the fewest goals during the season. Now, he’s the backup to Igor Shesterkin (32-15-2), who’s started 49 of 73 contests for the Rangers this year. But that doesn’t take away from the historic mark he set on Saturday, which could stand for quite a while.
Among active U.S.-born goalies, Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets is the next closest to Quick with 270 wins, followed by Anaheim Ducks John Gibson (193). After that, Vancouver Canucks’ Thatcher Demko (115) and Dallas Stars’ Jake Oettinger (107) are the only netminders with over 100 career victories.
