Kings, and Jonathan Quick, are poised to win Jennings Trophy
The name of the day: William M. Jennings.
Kings goalie Jonathan Quick is on the verge of succeeding last season’s Jennings Trophy winners, the Blackhawks’ Corey Crawford and Ray Emery. The award goes to “the goalkeeper(s) having played a minimum of 25 games for the team with the fewest goals scored against it.”
The Kings and the Bruins are one-two in the Jennings race and the Kings will win it if they allow two or less goals in their season finale Saturday against the Ducks at Staples Center. Boston would not be able to catch the Kings.
“It’s not a goalie’s award — it’s a team award,” Kings Coach Darryl Sutter said. “They put a goalie’s name on it, but it’s a team award. Contribution from everybody. I’m sure if you go ask Jonathan … the first thing that the goalie that plays most of the games is going to say, it’s a team award.”
Huge assists also go to former Kings goalie Ben Scrivens, now an Edmonton Oiler, and Kings rookie goalie Martin Jones, who played in 19 games, had four shutouts this season, including Thursday’s 3-0 win at Edmonton.
Said Jones: “Even though I don’t have enough games, I definitely want to be able to pitch in and get Quickie that one. He deserves it with how well he’s played all season.”
Anaheim update
Winger Teemu Selanne will not be in the Ducks’ lineup against the Kings on Saturday and will play in his final NHL regular-season game Sunday, when the Ducks wrap up their season with a home game against the surging Colorado Avalanche.
The 43-year-old Finn, who plans to retire after the playoffs, hasn’t played both ends of back-to-back games this season, a strategy designed to save his energy.
Ducks forwards Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry didn’t practice Friday and instead rested, but both are expected to play Saturday. Forward Daniel Winnik wore a cage to protect his broken nose but will play Saturday, Coach Bruce Boudreau said.
“Broken noses, to a hockey player, are like a bent fingernail,” Boudreau said. “Everybody’s had them. You play with them.”
The Ducks’ goaltending situation, thrown into flux by Jonas Hiller’s recent shakiness, Frederik Andersen’s upper-body injury, and the solid play of 20-year-old rookie John Gibson, remains unclear. Hiller said he won’t play Saturday but didn’t know his status for Sunday.
Boudreau, like Sutter, doesn’t announce his starting goalie in advance.
KINGS-DUCKS TONIGHT
Where: Staples Center.
When: 7:30.
On the air: TV: Prime Ticket. Radio: 1150, 710.
Etc.: Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, who has missed three games because of a injured shoulder, practiced Friday but remains questionable for the regular-season finale.
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