Jonathan Quick gets best of old team as Rangers top Kings

Field Level Media|published: Sun 10th December, 22:03 2023

Dec 10, 2023; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck (16) and Los Angeles Kings defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov (84) battle for position in front of Los Angeles Kings goalie Pheonix Copley (29) during the first period at Madison Square Garden. credits: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports

Jonathan Quick made 25 saves in his first start against his former team as the host New York Rangers ended their first losing streak of the season with a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday night.

Mika Zibanejad scored a power-play goal in the second period and Jonny Brodzinski also scored on the man advantage during a chaotic third, when the teams combined for 38 penalty minutes, including 10-minute misconducts to Zibanejad and Los Angeles forward Kevin Fiala.

Jimmy Vesey scored what turned out to be the game-winner late in the second as the Rangers bounced back from consecutive four-goal losses at Ottawa and Washington. Rookie Will Cuylle scored in the third for New York, and Vincent Trocheck collected three assists.

Phillip Danault scored on the power play for Los Angeles in the third after being bloodied by a puck to the face in the first period, but the Kings took their first regulation road loss. They also saw their season-opening road point streak end at 12 games.

Los Angeles goalie Pheonix Copley allowed four goals on 27 shots.

Quick improved to 8-0-1 as a Ranger, got his 383rd career victory and made 14 of his saves in the final period, including a glove save on Carl Grundstrom with about 6 1/2 minutes left to protect a two-goal lead.

Zibanejad opened the scoring by completing a pretty passing sequence for his third power-play tally of the season. After the Rangers made four passes, Zibanejad took a return feed from Trocheck and buried a one-timer from the middle of the right circle with 11:33 remaining in the first.

The Rangers doubled their lead nine minutes later thanks to a strong defensive play by Nick Bonino. Bonino used his hand to intercept Los Angeles defenseman Matt Roy's clearing attempt from the right corner and spotted a streaking Vesey, who got by Roy and slipped a backhander under Copley.

Danault made it a one-goal game 6:37 into the third by getting open at the right side of the crease and burying Adrian Kempe's cross-ice pass.

Brodzinski gave the Rangers a two-goal lead with 8:28 to play by sending a one-timer from the high slot past Copley. Nearly four minutes later, Cuylle clinched the victory by scoring off a scramble in front.

—Field Level Media

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