Rangers win fifth straight, Jonathan Quick becomes winningest American-born goalie in NHL history
Rangers players celebrate after a goal by left wing Alexis Lafreniere during the first first period of an NHL game Saturday in Tempe, Ariz. Credit: AP/Matt York
TEMPE, Ariz. — Two days after their win in the Mile High City, the Rangers turned Tempe into Milestone City.
It probably wasn’t the way he would have scripted it, but Jonathan Quick became the winningest American-born goalie in NHL history when he backstopped the Rangers to an 8-5 win over the Arizona Coyotes on Saturday night at Mullett Arena.
Chris Kreider notched his 300th career goal as the Rangers completed a sweep of their two-game road trip and won their fifth straight game. Alexis Lafreniere had his first career hat trick, plus two assists, to give him his first career five-point game. He reached the 50-point plateau for the first time. Adam Fox (two assists) earned his 300th career point and Jacob Trouba returned after missing 11 games with a lower-body injury.
Oh, and the Rangers recorded their 50th win of the season (50-20-4) and maintained their spot at the top of the league’s overall standings.
“It was a crazy game,’’ said defenseman Ryan Lindgren, who had a goal and two assists. “Everyone chipped in. And obviously it’s mostly about Quickie and him setting the record for [wins]. That is unbelievable. I can’t say enough about him, what type of goalie he is, but what type of guy he is, too. It’s an honor to play with him, and it’s an honor to be part of a night like this, for sure.’’
Quick made 27 saves to earn the 392nd win of his career and move past Ryan Miller. Quick is 15th on the NHL wins list.
After signing a one-year deal with the Rangers last summer to serve as Igor Shesterkin’s backup, Quick, 38, has a record of 17-5-2 this season.
“It’s kind of a crazy game. I’m just grateful we found a way to pull it out,’’ he said. “Obviously, you do everything you can to not think about it, but it’s there. So it’s kind of a good feeling to get it done and over with and focus on what’s really important, trying to win the division . . . and win the conference.’’
Kreider became the third Ranger to reach the 300-goal plateau when he scored at 5:45 of the third period, breaking a 3-3 tie. He thought he’d done it earlier in the game, but his goal late in the second period was overturned on video review.
Zac Jones and Barclay Goodrow (shorthanded) followed Kreider’s goal to give the Rangers a 6-3 lead, but Arizona got goals by Lawson Crouse and Logan Cooley to pull within 6-5. Artemi Panarin scored an empty-net goal with 2:25 left amd Lafreniere capped his hat trick by scoring into an empty net with 14.7 seconds left.
“I’m playing with good linemates, obviously, so they made good plays out there, and it’s good to get the first one,’’ he said.
With the stands filled with blue Rangers jerseys and chants of “Let’s go, Rangers!’’ erupting spontaneously and often, they essentially were playing a home game in the desert.
Lafreniere got the “visitors’’ on the board first, lifting a shot over Karel Vejmelka’s stick-side shoulder at 14:15 of the first period. Lindgren, in his second game back after missing four games with a left knee injury, made it 2-0 at 1:59, finishing a feed from Fox for his third goal of the season.
Matias Maccelli got the Coyotes on the board at 6:27, but Lafreniere’s second goal, 18 seconds later, made it 3-1. Clayton Keller pulled Arizona within 3-2 — and then things got wacky.
Nick Bjugstad clearly kicked in a rebound at 15:21 that immediately was disallowed. Then Kreider popped in a rebound that appeared to give the Rangers a 4-2 lead at 16:39. Arizona challenged the play, and the challenge was successful after video review determined that Jack Roslovic had interfered with Vejmelka.
Then, with 41.7 seconds left in the second period, Bjugstad got free in the slot and shot the puck past Quick, tying it at 3-3. But as they have done all season, the Rangers found a way. “Big performances to get a big win,’’ coach Peter Laviolette said. “That’s a dangerous team over there. They’re young, they’re fast, they’re skilled. And it shows. They can make plays.’’
Notes & quotes: Panarin had a goal and three assists and was plus-5. Vincent Trocheck had two assists and was plus-6
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Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
