Jonathan Quick’s Anger Sparks Postgame Melee After Rangers’ Loss to Red Wings

Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick turned the end of a tight defensive game into a benches-clearing scuffle Sunday night at Madison Square Garden.

After Detroit’s 2-1 win, Red Wings forward Mason Appleton fired the puck into the Rangers’ empty net well after the final horn. The extra shot drew an immediate reaction from Quick, who had made 40 saves on 42 shots and was visibly frustrated leaving the ice.

Quick skated toward Appleton in the Rangers’ zone, and players from both teams quickly converged. What began as a brief confrontation escalated into a full-ice gathering, with pushing, shoving and plenty of words exchanged before officials and coaches separated the crowd and directed players to their benches and locker rooms.

The incident capped a night in which the Rangers felt they had done enough to earn at least a point. Quick was sharp throughout, keeping New York in the game despite Detroit holding long stretches of possession.

Lucas Raymond scored the deciding goal for the Red Wings with 3:47 remaining in the third period, breaking a 1-1 tie. Mika Zibanejad had pulled the Rangers even with a power-play goal midway through the second, giving New York life after an uneven start.

Postgame, Quick’s reaction was viewed through the lens of hockey’s unwritten rules. Shooting the puck into an opponent’s empty net after the whistle is often seen as disrespectful, and it usually draws some form of response from the other side.

Neither team reported any injuries from the altercation, and the confrontation ended without any major injuries or punches being thrown. For the Rangers, the lasting sting was less about the postgame scuffle and more about a one-goal loss on home ice, despite a vintage night from their veteran goaltender.

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Article by Ed Middlecoff