Quick an All-star; Selanne defers to Perry
Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick, chosen as an All-star for the Jan. 29 game at Ottawa, had a typically low-key reaction to his first All-star selection and first for a Kings goalie since Mario Lessard in 1981.
“It’s a great accomplishment. It’s something I’m looking forward to do at the end of the month,” he said Thursday. “But right now we’ve got a lot of things going on here. …
“It’s going to be a great time and couple days. But that’s a couple weeks away here and we’ve got a lot to do here in the next couple weeks.”
The only other Kings goalies to make an All-star team were Terry Sawchuk in 1968, Rogie Vachon in 1973, 1975 and 1978, and Lessard. Before Thursday’s games, Quick had the NHL’S fourthbest goals-against average (1.93), fifth-best save percentage (.934), a league-leading six shutouts and was eighth in wins (18).
Quick was among the 36 All-stars and 12 rookies selected by the league Thursday to join six players chosen by fan balloting. A fantasy-type draft will be held Jan. 26 to divide the All-stars and rookies into two teams.
“I think it’s about time he got some recognition outside of our small little hockey world here in L.A.,” Kings defenseman Jack Johnson said of Quick. “I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves just because we play out here in Los Angeles. It’s welldeserved.”
The Ducks will be represented by right wing Corey Perry, who got his third AllStar invitation after Teemu Selanne declined.
Selanne, 41, led the Ducks in scoring over the first half of the season with 41 points. Perry was the NHL’S top goal scorer and most valuable player last season.
“I think it’s a young guy’s turn,” Selanne said. “Old guy has to rest. … I’ve been there many times.”
Perry said he appreciated Selanne’s gesture.
“It means something to me and shows what kind of guy he is,” said Perry, who had 18 goals and 35 points in the first 41games. helene.elliott@latimes.com Times staff writer Lisa Dillman contributed to this report from Calgary, Canada.