Jonathan Quick likely to make sixth straight start on Saturday

With Cal Petersen struggling lately, the LA Kings are likely to keep riding the hot hand in Jonathan Quick on Saturday.

The LA Kings have gone mainly with a goalie rotation this season, riding the hot hand at times. Before the All-Star break, Jonathan Quick made several starts in a row. After the calendar flipped to 2022, it was Cal Petersen’s turn. However, with the latter struggling lately, Todd McLellan is likely to stick with the hot hand in net.

"Players get in a zone, he's in it…You can place your money on him starting Saturday" – Toddfather on JQ32. #sources

— Dennis Bernstein (@DennisTFP) April 22, 2022

Petersen has lost his last three starts, giving up 15 goals over that span. In the month of April, the 27-year-old has a .856 SV% and 4.48 GAA in four games.

Quick is playing like it’s 2012 out there.

The 36-year-old owns a .914 SV% and 2.94 GAA this month in six games. After preserving a pair of 2-1 wins at home against Columbus and in Anaheim, Quick looked poised to pitch a shutout on Thursday against the Blackhawks. If not for a controversial offside call that would have kept Patrick Kane‘s power-play goal off the board, the Kings’ netminder would have done so.

On Thursday, Quick stopped 15-of-16 shots, earning his 21st win of the season. Over his last three games, he is 3-0-0 with a .956 save percentage and 1.00 goals-against average.

The Kings are just two wins away from clinching their first playoff berth since the 2017-18 season.

(Main photo credit: Alex Cave / Hockey Royalty)