Pittsburgh Penguins' Sidney Crosby on the ice after colliding with New York Rangers' Jonathan Quick, on November 22, 2023. Photo by Gene J. Puskar via AP Photo
Alexis Lafrenière scored early in the first period to put the Rangers up 1-0, and that was all.
Facing a Penguins team decimated with injuries, but still loaded with veterans to the likes of Crosby, Letang, and Malkin, the Rangers came into Pittsburgh and took care of business. With Lafrenière‘s goal in the first, it was assumed that neither team would be done.
However, the scoring would end there as the game transitioned into a tight, nail-biting affair. In the end, though, Jonathan Quick made 32 saves and notched his 60th career shutout, keeping the Pens off the board the entire game. The Rangers are now 13-3-1, and are red hot.
“I think in general we’ve been winning those tight games,” Quick said after the game. “It starts with our team commitment to defense and the way we play in our D-zone. We take care of that zone and then we go from there. We have enough skill up front that if we take care of the D-zone, we’re going to create chances at the other end.”
Quick, serving as the backup goalie to Igor Shesterkin this season, became the first American goaltender to reach the 60 shutout feat. He is now 19th in the NHL all-time in shutouts, tying Pekka Rinne. He has two shutouts already this season, with a 5-0-1 record and only 11 goals allowed thus far.
“[Quick’s] been outstanding,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said. “Today might have been his best. He was really sharp. As the game pressed on there, they’ve got some guys who can really create out there and he had to make some big saves. There was a backdoor leg save, a save right at the end of the game. Just an outstanding job.”
In their last 13 games, the Rangers are 11-1-1. They are off to their greatest start in franchise history, dating back to 1926. They are only five wins away from 3,000 in franchise history. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has struggled this season, going 0-for-5 on power plays in the game, and are now 0 for their last 20 in power plays.
“I think it was a struggle on the power play,” Penguins coach Mike Sullivan said. “They have a lot of pride and when it doesn’t go the right way, they put a lot of pressure on themselves to make it work. I think we were forcing it a little bit.”
The Penguins will play their next game against the Buffalo Sabres tomorrow at 6:00 pm Eastern. Meanwhile, the Rangers have sole possession of first place in the Metropolitan Division, with 27 points. They will play their next game against the Philadelphia Flyers tomorrow at 12:30 pm Eastern.
