TEMPE, Ariz. — Jonathan Quick broke the victory record for U.S.-born goalies Saturday night, as the New York Rangers defeated the Arizona Coyotes 8-5 at Mullett Arena.
Jonathan Quick, a three-time Stanley Cup champion who won his first two titles with the Los Angeles Kings, stopped 27 shots in moving past Ryan Miller with his 392nd victory.
“You do everything you can to not think about it, but it’s there. It’s a good feeling to get it done and over with,” Quick said after the win. “Focus on what’s really important, and trying to win the division here, and win the conference.”
The feat was not lost on his coach.
“What an amazing career for him,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said about Quick, who broke into the league in 2007-08.
Alexis Lafreniere had three goals and two assists in the victory, as well, and the NHL-leading New York Rangers reached 50 wins before the calendar turns to April.
Artemi Panarin had an empty-net goal with 2:25 left, his 44th of the season, and had three assists to give him 63. Lafreniere got the hat trick with an empty-netter with 14 seconds left. He has 25 goals, a career high for the 2020 first overall pick.
Tied at 3 in the third period, the Rangers scored three times in the first 10 minutes to seemingly break it open. Chris Kreider, Zac Jones and Barclay Goodrow had the goals in the third, with Goodrow’s short-handed strike the eventual deciding goal.
Arizona cut it to 6-5 before Panarin put it on ice.
The Rangers, with 104 points, won their fifth straight and finished March 10-3-1. New York is 20-4-1 since February.
“It’s a fun team to be a part of,” Quick said. “These guys work hard every day, they push each other. We’ve been finding different ways to win throughout the year. We have that confidence and the ability. They tied it up and the game could go either way and we find a way to win.”
Ryan Lindgren had a goal and two assists for the Rangers.
Matias Maccelli, Clayton Keller, Nick Bjugstad, Lawson Crouse and Logan Cooley scored for Arizona. Keller has a season-high eight-game points streak. He has 31 goals. Bjugstad has goals in four straight games.
Karel Vejmelka made 24 saves for Arizona.
Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba returned after missing 11 games because of a lower body injury. The Rangers captain last played March 4.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
