Kings Gameday: The Thing About Quick

(His EGA is 121.  I don't know why they didn't put it in there.)

We all like Jonathan Quick.  He's a good guy.  He has a child-like appearance, he moves like an octopus, he's delightful.  Everyone loves him... except he's not playing great now and everyone hates him.  It's weird, though, because it's not like he's playing terrible; at least, he's not playing more terrible than he has been all year.  I know it's seems logical to look at his play of late and the birth of his first child and say, "Hey, he's distracted and he's working too hard, he needs a break!"  The problem is, I don't really see how that's true.  Here are Quick's save percentages and goals against averages by month since the beginning of the year:

Oct- 13 GP, 2.59 GAA, .905 SV%

Nov- 13 GP, 2.72 GAA, .895 SV%

Dec- 12 GP, 2.55 GAA, .910 SV%

Jan- 13 GP, 2.31 GAA, .919 SV%

Feb- 5 GP, 2.41 GAA, .901 SV%

Mar- 13 GP, 2.60 GAA, .907 SV%

Apr- 2 GP, 2.73 GAA, .902 SV%

I don't see any fatigue; I see a natural fluctuation of performance for an average goalie.  I don't see why people would all of a sudden have a problem with Quick when they didn't in say, Nove-

Oct- 8 W, 3 L, 2 OTL

Nov- 6-6

Dec- 7-4-1

Jan- 10-3

Feb- 4-1

Mar- 4-7-1

Apr- 0-0-1

Oh.  Maybe that's why.  One final little list:

Oct- 3.29 LA Goals For/Game

Nov- 2.54

Dec- 3.07

Jan- 3.14

Feb- 3.17

Mar- 2.33

Apr- 4.67 (Wooo)

I think what the reason Quick is starting to feel the heat is twofold: one, he hasn't been that good to begin with this season* and people are starting to notice now because the Kings haven't been scoring; and two, Jonathan Bernier isn't some far away dream anymore but is instead a real thing now that Kings fans have gotten a look at him.  Ultimately, the Kings are going to live and die with Jonathan Quick.  The alternative, to call up Bernier and give him the reigns a few days before the playoffs, is so ridiculous and would so completely shatter everyone's confidence in Quick that it shouldn't even be discussed.  I know we're all tired of hearing it, but it's true: this season is not about this season.  The Kings aren't going far in the playoffs and I think we all know it.  This season is about getting experience and setting everything up for down the road. 

*I should preface this by saying, "...and that's fine since he's only 23 playing in his first full NHL season and I like him and am in no way trying to defame his character in anyway," but that's a lot of words.  Just imagine that is there.

The problem I'm seeing when I read about the Kings is one side is saying Quick sucks and the other side is saying that he's good because he has a lot of wins.  Both arguments are dumb.  Quick is average right now.  He's also the unquestioned starting goaltender for the Los Angeles Kings.  Might as well get used to it.

***

One team that has not questioned their goaltender this season is Phoenix.  Ilya Bryzgalov is a rich coyote, just like Wile E., and he's been stellar all season long.  The Kings still have a shot at playing Phoenix in the first round of the playoffs if they win at least two of their last three games, and that'd be a pretty fun series.  The Kings hold the tiebreaker over both Detroit and Nashville so we'll probably end up 5th or 6th.  Whatever, I just want the playoffs to start.

Prediction: Kings win, 2-1.  Goals by the dynamic duo of Alex Frolov and Dustin Brown, who comprise my favorite line on the Kings right now.  It's too bad Jarret Stoll is between them; it's like eating a turd oreo.