NEW YORK – New York Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan was absent from Sunday night’s 2-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings due to a personal matter, the team announced earlier in the day. No additional details were released.
Assistant coaches David Quinn and Joe Sacco handled bench duties in Sullivan’s place.
“I don’t have an update right now,” Quinn said after the game. “From the coaches to the players to the entire organization, we’re all thinking about Mike and his family. It’s never easy when you have to take care of family.”
Quinn said the staff kept their normal responsibilities: he continued running the defense pairs while Sacco called the forward lines.
“There really wasn’t a lot of change,” Quinn added. “It was a seamless situation.”
Sullivan is in his first season behind the Rangers’ bench. Quinn previously served as New York’s head coach from 2018 to 2021 before being dismissed, and he worked on Sullivan’s staff in Pittsburgh last season before following him to Manhattan. Quinn is also slated to be one of Sullivan’s assistants for Team USA at the upcoming Olympics.
Despite 40 saves from Jonathan Quick, the Rangers dropped to 1-7-1 at home this season while remaining 9-1-1 on the road.
“Quickie was unbelievable tonight,” Quinn said. “He made some huge saves. He was our best penalty killer.”
