Jonathan Quick provides Rangers with NHL’s best goaltending tandem

Igor Shesterkin’s windmill saves have become a hallmark of Russia’s top netminder, but on Saturday night it was Jonathan Quick who grabbed the puck out of the air in a quick, fluid move.

The Ducks had just earned their only power play of the game in the second period of a scoreless game against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden when the 38-year-old Quick made the save of the night.

As Quick hugged the right post and Troy Terry saw him closing in, the Ducks forward then advanced to Mason McTavish in the high slot in the middle of the zone for an instant one-timer.

Quick leaned forward, reached out and pulled the glove down. It drew thunderous applause from the Garden crowd, which erupted into a “QUICK-IE” chant to show its appreciation.

McTavish skated through the blue crease, said something to the Rangers’ backup goalie and shook his head in disbelief at what was just one spectacular save from Quick’s 32 in the Blueshirts’ 2-1 win over Anaheim.

“He was great,” Ryan Lindgren said. “We gave away too many chances, but that one in the end – that glove save (on McTavish) – was something. He was great all night.”

If there was any doubt that the Rangers had the best goaltending tandem in the NHL, there should be no more.

Sure, the Islanders’ Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin are also formidable.

Their cumulative goaltending stats from last season stood at a .913 save percentage, a 2.60 goals-against average and five shutouts.

Shesterkin and Quick hovered around the exact same numbers last season, combining for a .912 save percentage, 2.60 GAA and six shutouts.

The NHL expects a certain level of excellence from Shesterkin, who will become the highest-paid goaltender in league history between now and next summer.

However, the fact that Quick has picked up where he left off last season is what keeps Rangers so firmly in the net.

“I thought he was solid, that’s two for him now,” head coach Peter Laviolette said of Quick on Saturday evening. “He has had very strong games for us back-to-back. It’s fantastic to not play for a few days and just practice. It shouldn’t surprise anyone. He is a world-class goalkeeper.”

One look at Quick’s numbers from his final season in Los Angeles and his brief stint in Las Vegas during the 2022-2023 season and you’d think the Connecticut native was about to hang up his skates.

With a combined record of 16-15-6, an .882 save percentage and a 3.41 goals-against average, Quick had never had worse stats in a full season in his 18-year NHL career.

The future Hall of Famer came to New York instead and revived his storied career, which he further cemented by becoming the winningest U.S.-born goaltender last season while wearing a Rangers jersey.

In 29 games with the Rangers since 2023-24, including his two starts this season, Quick has a .914 save percentage and a 2.54 goals-against average with two shutouts.

He has conceded just three goals in the past two games on a total of 64 shots, giving him a .953 save percentage and a 1.51 goals-against average so far.

Saturday night counted as win No. 395 for Quick, who is now just five shy of becoming the first American goaltender to reach 400 wins in NHL history.