It wasn’t a coincidence that the Rangers’ best performance in weeks coincided with one of Rick Nash’s most productive performances of the season.
There was a connection between the eight-time 30-goal scorer snapping his 12-game scoring drought and his team responding in kind to seeing their top gun come alive with a responsible, smart and aggressive end-to-end effort.
“He knows that we need him to score, get on the scoresheet,” coach Alain Vigneault said following practice Wednesday as the Rangers prepared to play host Thursday night to the Sabres at the Garden. “He puts a lot of pressure on himself, but I’m very confident yesterday is a step in the right direction for him and our group.”
Nash snapped out of his scoring drought against the Flyers in the thorough 5-1 victory, scoring twice, just his second two-goal game of the season. He had managed just one assist in the previous 12 contests, entering the game against the Flyers with 18 points in 44 games. It was fitting the Rangers were a mediocre 5-5-2 in that stretch, averaging a shade more than two goals per game.
“You give him those looks, eventually he’ll score. That’s what me and [Pavel Buchnevich] tried to do, tried to open it up for him, and tried to get him scoring opportunities, and he took advantage of those opportunities he had [Tuesday] night,” linemate Mika Zibanejad said. “Obviously, a guy like Nasher, a leader in this locker room and on the ice, and the way he plays, it’s good to have him scoring and feeling good about himself as well.”
Nash scored on a breakaway for his first goal, tying the game at one in the first period, and he added a second from right circle, the kind of play the Rangers (23-17-5, 51 points) would like to see more of from everyone. A simple play, not looking to create the perfect chance.
“Point of emphasis there is getting the puck to the net first and foremost,” captain Ryan McDonagh said.
Vigneault and Nash’s teammates have credited the left wing for his determination and will during this trying season, refusing to get down despite the puck not bouncing his way, playing his same brand of physical hockey despite not finding the back of the net.
“Rick is a big part of our team, big part of that leadership group that I rely on, and that our group relies on,” Vigneault said. “When he is getting the looks, and playing the way he is, and not getting rewarded, it’s a good example [for other guys]. You see a guy just staying with it, keeps working. … He stayed real positive.”
Of course, it helps when he gets the payoff like he did Tuesday. It helps the Rangers, too. Now it’s up to both Nash and his teammates to build on the rout of the Flyers, starting Thursday at the Garden against the Sabres, and continuing in the four-game western swing that follows.
“We can’t be satisfied with this win,” Zibanejad said. “We’re happy that we won, happy that we played well and played like we wanted to, but we got to follow this up somehow with another strong effort and strong game otherwise this game doesn’t mean anything as far as momentum goes.”