Quick Is Now New Gold Standard For L.A. Goalies

Game 62: Kings 5, Stars 1

The Kings' all-time goaltending list is admittedly not that impressive. Sure you have Rogie Vachon, Felix Potvin and Kelly Hrudey. But for each of those names, you have a Dan Cloutier, Jason LaBarbera or Rick Knickle.

So when a player can rise up and set a team record in goaltending, you tend to pay attention. That's exactly what happened Tuesday when Jonathan Quick tallied his 36th win of the season to break Mario Lessard's 30-year record.

The Kings picked up where they left off back in February, mainly kicking ass and taking names. Tuesday's team was the Dallas Stars, a team they have outright owned this season. And it was a perfect start to the pressurized stretch run.

I have to say, this "stretch" run is going to be more of a sprint than a run. The league closed up shop for the Olympics, and players couldn't even practice for a week while the Games were underway in Vancouver. But the time off wasn't wasted as teams got healthy and rested for the playoffs.

Sure, Dustin Brown, Jack Johnson, Michal Handzus and Drew Doughty didn't get a break, but thank goodness Quick got some rest. The kid has been an iron man for the Kings this season, and it was nice for Burke to name him to the U.S. team. But let's face it, Quick was  the Christian Laettner of the U.S. Olympic hockey team. A good player in his own right, but wasn't going to see the ice unless something unforeseen happened.

The time off the ice probably gave Quick some time to think and focus on what he needs to do when he laces up the skates for the Kings. And he was able to come out and pick up where he left off for L.A.

Almost.

Quick had several flubs handling the puck. His paddle pass in the first period almost cost a goal. Another pass got away from him later in the game. But what little rust had settled on him was gone at the end of the game. I also heard that he and his wife are expecting a baby any day now. It's been a whirlwind season for Quick, and it's been exciting to see him evolve into the top-end goalie Kings fans have been thirsting for.

Jarret Stoll started the scoring off for L.A. in the first period. He had been struggling on the offensive side of the puck, so it was nice for him to light the lamp first game back.

An example of the beatdown L.A. put on Dallas was the fight Wayne Simmonds had with Jeff Woywitka. Over on hockeyfights.com ,over 85 percent of voters gave the fight to Simmonds. Woywitka hadchecked Simmonds into the boards, then tried to add insult to injury byknocking off Wayne's lid. All that did was awaken a sleeping lion, asSimmonds proceeded to layeth the smacketh down on Woywitka, who probably wished he hadn't kicked that hornet's nest.

The Kings responded by hitting their stride in the period. Goals from Alexander Frolov, Brad Richardson and Ryan Smyth had the Kings in the driver's seat in the second period. Dallas had one goal in the third period, and outshot L.A. 32-22. But the game really wasn't ever in question. When Anze Kopitar popped in his 29th goal with seven seconds left, all that was left was the whimpering of the hapless Stars.

Alexander Frolov, perhaps miffed on not getting the nod from Russia for the Olympics, had a goal and two assists. Despite have three assists, Olympic gold medalist Drew Doughty looked out of sync compared to how he played in Vancouver. However, he was good enough to get the second star. Quick rounded out the top three, giving L.A. a sweep of the top players on the ice.

More importantly, the win gave the Kings 80 points on the season, surpassing last season's total. Since I started blogging back in 2006, I have witnessed the team hit its rockiest seasons. But it has been great to see this team grow and turn into a force. With 20 more games left in the season, it's realistic to say the team won't crack the top three in the West. But many people are finally accepting the fact that L.A. is for real.

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