Rangers pull away to beat Coyotes as Jonathan Quick nets US goalie wins record
In Tempe, Arizona, the Rangers entered their game against the Coyotes with a significant individual milestone within reach. Following a chaotic 8-5 victory at Mullett Arena, the team immediately gathered around Jonathan Quick to celebrate his achievement of surpassing Ryan Miller’s record for the most wins by an American-born goalie in NHL history, now at 392.
Although facing one of the NHL’s weakest teams, the Rangers rallied together to support Quick and secure the milestone. However, achieving this feat was only possible due to several other notable milestones along the way.
Quick, who made 27 saves, expressed relief at achieving the milestone and emphasized shifting focus towards the team’s broader goals of winning their division and conference.
The Rangers, already the first NHL team to reach 50 wins this season, continue to pursue these objectives. Despite Quick’s historic accomplishment, the team’s success was also propelled by various other notable achievements.
Head coach Peter Laviolette acknowledged the importance of the win, particularly highlighting strong performances in the first and third periods, despite defensive lapses in the second.
Entering the third period tied 3-3, the Rangers asserted dominance with five goals compared to the Coyotes’ two. However, their victory was marred by moments of complacency whenever they held a significant lead.
Despite allowing Arizona to narrow the gap to a one-goal difference late in the game, the Rangers secured the win with empty-net goals from Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere.
The team’s offensive effort was evident with ten different players contributing to the score sheet, including defenseman Ryan Lindgren, who notched three points for the second time in his career.
Aware of Quick’s impending milestone, the team maintained focus without needing to discuss it beforehand. The postgame atmosphere saw an extended team meeting, with commemorative pucks circulated among players, symbolizing each notable achievement.
