Shot totals don’t tell the story

For the first time in quite a while, Jonathan Quick’s goals-against average has hit 2.00 (in this case, exactly 2.00). For the first time this season, Quick has allowed four goals in consecutive starts, and last night against Detroit, the Kings allowed the fewest shots on goal they have all season (15) but still let in four goals. It would be difficult to argue, though, that Quick let in a single “bad’’ goal. Could he have made some brilliant saves? Yes, but the goals were far more about defensive breakdowns than they were about bad reads or miscues on Quick’s part. The goals were also a credit to the Red Wings, who moved the puck well and converted their chances.

QUICK: “You expect plays like that, when you’re playing the Red Wings. You know that’s what they’re capable of and you know that’s what they like to do. With those little 10-foot plays, they get the goalie moving east-to-west, and you’ve got to be ready for it.’’

Question: Because people might look at just the shot total, but those chances were high-quality chances…

QUICK: “They’re going to get good chances. The shot total, that’s just a stat. If you look at stats, stats are for people that don’t know the game, for bird-watchers. We lost the game. That’s all it is. We lost 4-3. We have a big game tomorrow, and that’s all we’re focused on.’’