Veteran experience from Quick, Laviolette a big asset for the New York Rangers

Experience.

That’s what everyone loves to talk about during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It’s all about experience. 

The Rangers’ 3-0 series lead has suddenly slipped away, and now they need to steal a game on the road in PNC Arena on Friday to avoid resorting to Game 7.

“It doesn’t matter what happened a game ago, two games ago, three games ago – honestly, that means nothing,” three-time Stanley Cup champion Jonathan Quick said.

If one guy on the Rangers has experienced all there is in this game, it’s Quick. He has been on both sides of this series in his 17-year career. It might only be his first year with this team, but Quick’s resume speaks for itself.

“When he says something, people listen,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said. “He’s been through it, and he’s done it. He’s a multiple Stanley Cup winner. When you get somebody like that in your locker room, it’s important.” 

Quick was the Los Angeles Kings’ No. 1 goaltender when he won his first Stanley Cup in 2012. The Kings went up 3-0 in the Stanley Cup final against the New Jersey Devils before eventually winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP. Two years later, Quick helped lead the Kings back from down 0-3 against the San Jose Sharks in the opening round of the playoffs. That helped spark another long run, winning the Cup once again.

Quick was also part of Vegas’ Cup run last year, albeit without playing a single postseason game.

Even if his impact within the group isn’t on the ice, Quick’s presence is felt around the room.

“It could just be a conversation I had with him, or if he talks to someone else or maybe he says something in between a period – people stop and they listen because this is a guy who knows exactly what it takes to be successful,” Laviolette said. 

Quick has served as the backup behind Igor Shesterkin this spring. And while it wouldn’t be a good thing if the Rangers had to lean on Quick at some point, having him as part of the team still matters.

“There’s no momentum that carries over from game to game,” Quick said. “Whether you’re down 3-0 and we just won two – it doesn’t f------ matter – you’re trying to win a hockey game, It doesn’t change your approach.” 

Quick knows from his own playing experience that in situations like this, your confidence is everything.

“I’m a believer in that confidence is based on your work and what you put in leading up to it,” Quick said about his own habits. “You feel like you put in enough work, you’re gonna go in confident,” he added. 

How about his belief in his goaltending partner?

“He’s put in more than enough work,” Quick said about Shesterkin’s play. “He approaches every practice like a game. It makes it easier to go into games confident knowing what you’ve put into it and the work you’ve put into your game.

“For me, that’s what I see. When he goes out there and he’s playing confident – it’s because of the work that he put into it.”

Quick isn’t the only guy in the organization who has been through this. Laviolette was the man behind Philladelphia’s bench when the Rangers lost their final game of the 2009-10 regular season to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2010 in a win-and-get-in situation. He coached that Flyer team to a 0-3 series comeback against the Boston Bruins, so he can also speak on this experience.

Something that his team needs to channel from that is a little more desperation. 

“Desperation is a funny thing; you can’t give it to somebody,” Laviolette said. “You actually have to feel it. You have to be in it and then you can rise to that level. We move into the next game and you realize now that the window is a little smaller and that desperation level rises.”

The Rangers have continuously bounced back in moments like this all year long, and a lot of that ability comes from their leadership. After surrendering two consecutive losses, there’s a reason to be nervous, but the team is still looking forward.

“The team has proven itself. You’re in the playoffs, and we’re now met with some challenges. We’re gonna look for a response in Game 6. History says that we’ll play a much better game in Game 6,” Laviolette said.