{"id":2419,"date":"2016-10-13T10:50:03","date_gmt":"2016-10-13T14:50:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonhockey.com\/?p=2419"},"modified":"2016-10-14T00:49:29","modified_gmt":"2016-10-14T04:49:29","slug":"jonathan-quick-leaves-opening-night-with-lower-body-injury","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2016\/10\/13\/jonathan-quick-leaves-opening-night-with-lower-body-injury\/","title":{"rendered":"Jonathan Quick Leaves Opening Night with Lower Body Injury"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jonathan Quick<\/a><\/strong>, Los Angeles Kings<\/strong>\u2019 all-star goalie, didn\u2019t play in the second and third period of Wednesday\u2019s opening night game, against the San Jose Sharks<\/strong>. The Sharks topped the Kings 2-1 in the game, Quick let in one of those goals.<\/p>\n

Jonathan Quick Leaves Opening Night with Lower Body Injury<\/h2>\n

The injury wasn\u2019t specified, all that\u2019s known is it was a lower body injury, and it most likely happened during the last shift of the first period. \u201cHe got hurt sliding\u2026 I couldn\u2019t tell if it was that play. All the trainers said he did it sliding,\u201d said coach Darryl Sutter<\/a><\/strong>. Kings general manager Dean Lombardi<\/strong> said Quick has an MRI scheduled for Thursday, and that he believes the injury isn\u2019t a good one.<\/p>\n

Sutter doesn\u2019t seem too worried, though as he spoke to the LA Times post game<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s not that big a deal. We\u2019ve got two or three goalies. Good ones,\u201d he added. He\u2019s referring to Jeff Zatkoff<\/a><\/strong>, who came in after Quick was injured and only let in one goal. Peter Budaj<\/a><\/strong>, who\u2019s had starts in ten different NHL seasons, will most likely be called up to backup Zatkoff, who should get the starting role in Quick’s abscence.<\/p>\n

A Look at Jeff Zatkoff<\/h3>\n

Zatkoff got his name out there, during the 2016 playoffs, with the Pittsburgh Penguins<\/strong>. Although Matt Murray<\/a><\/strong> was the real breakout player, Zatkoff also had a few good playoff games while Marc-Andre Fleury<\/a><\/strong> was hurt. When the Penguins didn\u2019t re-sign Zatkoff, the Kings jumped on the chance to get a perfectly capable backup goalie.<\/p>\n

Zatkoff has started in a total of 29 games, and played in 36 games total, all with the Penguins. In those games he has a total record of 16-15-3. He has a career save percentage of .915 and an average goals against of 2.64.<\/p>\n

What he wanted out of this season was the chance to be a reliable backup. He can\u00a0see a good amount of games compared to the small amount he\u2019s seen over his three seasons in Pittsburgh. However, he might have the opportunity to get a few games in before we actually know what\u2019s wrong with Quick. He\u2019ll have even more starts after that. Budaj isn\u2019t the worst backup option for the Kings. He\u2019s used to a backup role, and has to be excited considering his alternative was being the AHL starter.<\/p>\n

Although the injury isn\u2019t ideal for the Kings, they shouldn\u2019t struggle too much. It\u2019s also a really good chance for Jeff Zatkoff to finally get the NHL playing time.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n