The Rangers acquired Rick Nash to avoid being in this position, to avoid games in which the season is on the line and the offense appears for extended stretches allergic to energy and ingenuity.
But they also got Nash to remedy such situations, such as the Rangers facing a 3-2 deficit in their opening-round series against the Capitals heading into Game 6 Sunday at Madison Square Garden.
Nash, the prized offseason acquisition who was invaluable in the Rangers’ playoff push with a team-high 21 goals, along with 21 assists, could end up being as big a factor in an early elimination, having been held without a goal and to only one point through five games.
“I’ve had some chances, didn’t get the job done,” Nash said following Saturday’s practice. “No excuses, got to find a way to do it.”
Since attempting eight shots on goal in the series opener, Nash has quickly devolved into an apparition on ice, the box score practically the only evidence of his involvement.
He attributes his lack of success to the Capitals taking away space, limiting him to two shots in each of the past two games, but teammate Derick Brassard, who also played with Nash for five seasons in Columbus, said he has not seen a change in Nash’s attitude or approach, despite the former No. 1 overall pick’s struggles.
“He’s trying hard here and [tonight] I think we just need to help him out as linemates and make sure we support him all the time,” said Brassard, who has six points in the past three games. “He wants it. He wants it bad, and that’s what we see from him in the room.
“Obviously everyone knows him in the league, they’re going to pay more attention to him because he’s a game-breaker. We just need to give him the puck. Me and [Mats Zuccarello], we need to find him. He knows where to go. He knows those good areas in the slot. We could do a lot of damage [tonight] and we’re going to need to be good.”
When the Rangers have switched buildings and jerseys in this series, they’ve switched gears and identities, with better forechecking and physicality at the Garden. The players have no explanation for the disturbing disparity in their play on the road and at home, but they are aware of it.
Nash acknowledged after the 2-1 overtime loss in Game 5 that as an individual he’s a “pretty streaky player.”
His teammates seem unconcerned, believing he is too good and his production is only a matter of time, even if time is running out.
“Rick’s going to come,” Zuccarello said. “Every player’s going to have ups and downs. He’s an important guy for us. It’s going to come. He keeps playing the same way, he’s going to bang one in eventually.”
Eventually may only be an option so much longer.