Jeremy Swayman was disappointed with the result of the Bruins’ 2-1 loss, but he couldn’t help but admire the performance of the Ranger who made it happen.
Jonathan Quick was one of the players Swayman grew up idolizing. Quick starred for the Kings and on occasion Team USA while Swayman was a kid in Alaska. On Thursday, they were in opposing nets at Madison Square Garden when the Rangers hosted the Bruins.
While Swayman was good for the Bruins with 25 saves, Quick, who turns 39 later this month, turned back the clock at the other end of the ice. Quick, has a Conn Smythe and two Jennings Trophies on his shelf, looked like the athletic goalie, who led the Kings to two Stanley Cups.
He stopped 32 shots including 12 each in the second and third periods for his 399th career win, the most by a goalie born in the United States. At 26, Swayman is 13 years younger and currently 307 wins behind Quick on that American goalie list.
“It was a pretty cool moment to see vintage Quicky, playing against him,” Swayman said. “He’s a guy who has had success in this league because of the work he’s put in and the kind of human being he is. He’s someone I want to be when I grow up.”
The two spoke briefly before the game and again passing each other en route to their respective benches during a second-period TV timeout. Quick was asked what they said.
“I’ve seen him make quite a few great saves,” Quick said. “I just said, ‘Nice save.’”
The former UMass goalie entered the year as Rangers’ No. 2 netminder, but with Igor Shesterkin going on injured reserve earlier this week, Quick will likely be a workhorse for the foreseeable future. He looked well-suited for the gig against the Bruins.
“He made a lot of good saves, but then he made two or three really great saves that we needed,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said. “I thought he was really sharp. We really needed that. Your goaltender makes a big save, there’s no question you feel that energy on the bench.”
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