Quick stays on pace, playing well

Going back to the summer, Terry Murray talked about his desire to reduce Jonathan Quick’s workload this season, and keep his start total in the high 50s. At one point, Murray specifically mentioned the number 57. Tonight’s start will be Quick’s 39th of the season, in the Kings 53rd game. Last season, Quick started 48 of the Kings’ first 53 games. Of course, things rarely go exactly to plan, but so far Murray has stayed on track with his preseason hopes. Quick is on pace to make exactly 60 starts this season, although it’s possible that total could rise if the Kings remain in a tight playoff race late in the season…

MURRAY: “Quick has played very well for us all year long. He had a great start to the year. Everybody goes into a little bit of a dip as we go through the schedule, but his game right now is real good. I like the focus, the intensity. His energy level and his concentration on the game, right from the beginning, is right where it needs to be to give us that kind of a game. As we all know, when you get into the second half of the year, you need a premier goaltender going and making `A’ saves and giving you that opportunity.”