March 24--NEW YORK -- Barring some late development, it appears as though Kings goalie Jonathan Quick will start against the New York Rangers on Tuesday night, making it the second time this season he has played back-to-back nights.
Now this didn't come from via a pronouncement from Kings Coach Darryl Sutter. That would be out of character for Sutter to start disclosing information about his goalies. It had to do with backup goalie Martin Jones getting in some work with the extra players -- defensemen Brayden McNabb and Jamie McBain and center Andy Andreoff on Tuesday morning at Madison Square Garden.
Quick last played on consecutive nights in late December on a Kings' trip to Alberta. They lost, 2-1, to the Flames on Dec. 29 and suffered a shootout loss to the Oilers on Dec. 30.
It makes sense when you add the fact that the Kings are in the tightest of playoff races and that Quick didn't face much work on Monday against the Devils, at least until the third period. He faced 20 shots, in all, and just eight through the first 40 minutes.
The phrase for Quick should be: 73 or bust.
Already, he has played in 63 games and will hit 73 appearances if he plays in every game the rest of the way. His career high is 72 games played, in the 2009-10 season.
Sutter spoke about Kings center Anze Kopitar, who had a three-point night against the Devils, the tight playoff race and the recent recall of center Mike Richards from the minors, saying, "his experience at winning chamionshps can help us for sure."
Kopitar had a goal and two assists on Monday night.
"Kopi's played really well the last three or four games,' Sutter said. "Just his energy level and handling the puck and making plays, getting in the middle of the ice and wanting the puck. All those things the top centermen do."
Kopitar's daughter was born on March 14.
"He's played really well since the little one was born," Sutter said.
