Jonathan Quick, in most instances, avoids talking about himself. At all costs. Questions about awards and milestones veer into answers filled with compliments directed toward teammates.
But Sunday night, as the final seconds ticked off the clock and the 399 in Quick’s ledger flipped to 400, the reactions of the Rangers around him said it all.
Vincent Trocheck got to him first, throwing his arms around Quick and pushing him back into one of the nets he just defended en route to 34 saves in their 4-2 win against the Golden Knights.
The 18,006 fans that packed the Garden roared as the other Blueshirts formed a giant embrace around him. K’Andre Miller, who scored the go-ahead goal, said Quick has meant “everything” to the Rangers (25-23-4) and called him “one of the greatest goalies of all time.”
Jonathan Quick #32 of the New York Rangers celebrates with teammates after a 4-2 win for his 400th career win against the Vegas Golden Knights at Madison Square Garden on February 2, 2025 in New York City.
Jonathan Quick #32 of the New York Rangers gets his 400th career win against the Vegas Golden Knights at Madison Square Garden on February 2, 2025 in New York City.
Head coach Peter Laviolette labeled it an “unbelievable milestone.”
“That’s been something the last couple games here he’s been playing we’re aware of,” Mika Zibanejad said. “We’ve been trying to do everything we can to get him that win.”
Quick, 39 years old and in the twilight of a career that already features three Stanley Cups and plenty of records, failed at his first three attempts to become the first American-born goalie, and the 15th ever, to hit 400 wins.
But with the Rangers carried by the jolt of J.T. Miller — their recent acquisition back in the Garden for a second stint — and third-period goals from K’Andre Miller, a slumping Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin, though, the Blueshirts snapped a three-game skid that threatened to become disastrous at this stage of the calendar, and Quick left the Garden with another place in NHL history.
“It means I’ve been lucky enough to play with a lot of great hockey players that value winning and put that above all else,” Quick said. “Just grateful. Been on some great teams over the course of my career, this one included here.”
Jonathan Quick #32 of the New York Rangers makes a save during the second period when the New York Rangers played the Vegas Golden Knights Sunday, February 2, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, NY.
Jonathan Quick of the New York Rangers takes a break against the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 2, 2025.
Before he secured the elusive win, Quick kept the Rangers from spiraling out of control in the opening frame, allowing just Jack Eichel’s goal — when the Blueshirts penalty kill couldn’t clear the puck — with 18.8 seconds remaining despite facing six high-danger chances, according to Natural Stat Trick. On one impressive sequence, he snared a quick shot from Eichel in the slot that easily could’ve been another goal.
Eichel’s pair of goals were his lone blemishes, but the Rangers managed to even the Golden Knights after both — using goals from Alexis Lafreniere and Zibanejad as responses to goals by Eichel.
That second one, though, was perhaps most encouraging given Zibanejad’s struggles for most of the season and new spot on the wing alongside J.T. Miller.
After Matt Rempe drew a penalty in the third, Zibanejad ended up back on the ice with the first unit to start the chance. And after a J.T. Miller shot managed to sneak through Vegas goaltender Adin Hill, Zibanejad, from his perch near the right post, tapped the rebound into the net just five minutes into the frame.
At the 11:33 mark, K’Andre Miller ripped in his fourth goal of the season that served as the game-winner, and Panarin followed with a late power-play goal that extended the Rangers advantage.
Alexis Lafreniere #13 of the New York Rangers celebrates his second period goal against the Vegas Golden Knights at Madison Square Garden on February 02, 2025 in New York City.
A second period shot by Alexis Lafreniere of the New York Rangers gets past Adin Hill #33 of the Vegas Golden Knights at Madison Square Garden on February 02, 2025 in New York City.
Just as the Rangers had started to make some strides, just when they’d started to climb the Eastern Conference standings enough to become buyers before the deadline, they hit another skid. But in Miller’s second game back with the Rangers, they had the fuel from a reunion with their new first-line center.
He opened with a two-point debut against the Bruins. Then, he added two assists one night later, capping an evening where the Garden roared after his pregame introduction.
And when they needed another win, Quick, as he has the last two seasons, delivered one. His years as Igor Shesterkin’s backup won’t produce the stats that could eventually lead to the Hall of Fame one day, once his playing days end and his signature saves — like the ones he made again Sunday night — are, somehow, no longer routine.
That all transpired during the early stage of his career, all 16 seasons worth of it, with the Kings. The records, though, will only fuel his case.
Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers skates in his 900th NHL game against the Vegas Golden Knights at Madison Square Garden on February 02, 2025 in New York City.
K’Andre Miller #79 of the New York Rangers throws a hit against Keegan Kolesar #55 of the Vegas Golden Knights at Madison Square Garden on February 2, 2025 in New York City.
And No. 400 might be the most impressive one yet.
“It means he’s been really good for a long time,” Laviolette said. “If you watch him on a daily basis, it’s not hard to figure out the way he’s reached that number.”
