Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick hasn’t played since Nov. 12 because of a groin issue, and that same injury will likely force him to miss the rest of his team’s games through Christmas.
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Despite not having the 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy winner in the starting lineup on a consistent basis, the Kings have continued to win games with backup Ben Scrivens in net. The former Toronto Maple Leafs goalie has a 5-1-1 record in his first season with the Kings, which includes a four-game winning streak and no regulation losses since Oct. 29. His .949 save percentage and 1.35 GAA are the best among goaltenders with at least seven games played, and on Monday, he was named the NHL’s first star of the week.
While it’s good for the Kings that they are winning without a player of Quick’s caliber, this injury has the potential to negatively impact his status for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Quick entered the year as the favorite to be Team USA’s starter in net, but a poor start to the Kings’ campaign (2.35 GAA, .905 SV%), combined with his injury issues, could open the door for Craig Anderson, Ryan Miller, Jimmy Howard or Ben Bishop to emerge as the leading candidate for the No. 1 job in Sochi. If he’s healthy, Quick should be a lock to make the final Olympic roster, but he’s no longer the obvious choice to start the first game of the group stage.
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