LOS ANGELES — The Rangers entered Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals Wednesday night at Staples Center licking their chops about the prospect of facing Kings goalie Jonathan Quick, who has given up a lot of goals this postseason and, at times, has looked vulnerable.
After their 3-2 overtime loss to the Kings, though, the Rangers are licking their wounds — down 1-0 in the best-of-seven series and wondering what went wrong after they built a 2-0 lead just five minutes into the game.
A pattern had been set this postseason by Quick and, in the end, it took shape in Game 1. Call it bend-but-don’t-break goaltending. Call it a tease. Call it luck. Call it whatever you want.
But, despite giving up 62 goals in 22 playoff games (including 13 in the previous three games entering Wednesday night), Quick has been a big part of the Kings getting to the finals by surviving three series that went the full seven games.
At the end of regulation Wednesday, Quick was at his best, stoning speedy Rangers winger Carl Hagelin on a breakway with 40 seconds remaining in the third period of a 2-2 game.
“Jonathan Quick was our best player tonight,’’ Kings coach Darryl Sutter said.
In reference to the Rangers having only five shots after the second period (three in the third and two in OT), Rangers defenseman Marc Staal questioned whether it was Quick, who stopped 25-of-27 shots in the game, getting better as the game went on or the Rangers’ playing poorly.
“I think he got less work as the game went on,’’ Staal said. “He made some big saves when they needed him to. Hags [Hagelin] had that breakaway. That was a big save. But still, not enough quantity that last half of the second period and in the third.’’
In the hours leading up to the game, there had actually been concern among Los Angeles followers about Quick, who appeared to slightly injure himself making a high-body save on a shot by teammate Kyle Clifford in Tuesday’s practice.
Possible injury aside, there have been questions about how sharp Quick has been in goal in these playoffs for the Kings. His numbers entering Game 1, were not exactly awe-inspiring: A 2.86 goals-against-average and a .906 save percentage.
In the Western Conference finals, Quick yielded 23 goals in seven games, including 13 in the last three of the best-of-seven series Los Angeles won four games to three over the Blackhawks with a 5-4 overtime win in Game 7 on Sunday night.
“A lot has been said about his play, [but] Quickie’s a competitor,’’ Kings captain Dustin Brown said before the game. “His save percentage or his numbers might not be as good as it was in 2012 [when the Kings won the Stanley Cup], but he’s still making those game-breaker saves for us that have allowed us to come back or hold the lead and advance.
“We’ve seen it in a game-in, game-out basis. He’s made the saves that have allowed us to keep playing this time of year.’’