When a goalie is playing as poorly as Jonathan Quick has been during the Stanley Cup playoffs, he’ll try anything to gain an edge. For Quick, grasping an opponent’s leg and refusing to let go apparently falls within those parameters.
The Los Angeles Kings goaltender has allowed an NHL-high 16 goals over three consecutive playoff losses, and his team — considered by some to be a Cup contender when the playoffs began — is now within one game of a sweep at the hands of the San Jose Sharks.
The third of those losses — a 4-3, overtime decision — came Tuesday night at Staples Center, and the desperate netminder resorted to some rather dubious tactics late in the third period. When Sharks forward Logan Couture tumbled to the ice as the Kings began a breakout, Quick wrapped his arms around Couture’s right leg and held on for dear life, letting go only after being scolded by the referee.
Couture surely will have the “scoreboard” response ready to go if Quick tries any more tricks in Game 4, which is set for Thursday night in L.A.
GIF via Next Impulse Sports
