NHL

Firing blanks: Blueshirts need Nash to find the net

MONTREAL — The message has been coming from neighboring lockers and from the head coach with equal enthusiasm, a reinforcement that despite having not scored a single goal in 14 postseason games, Rick Nash actually is playing well.

Yet it’s a message that comes with a caveat, as the Rangers’ leading goal scorer in the regular season — even after missing 17 games with an early-season concussion — needs to produce on the score sheet.

It’s how he will get there that is the problem.

“We all believe,” head coach Alain Vigneault said on Friday, “and I hope he believes the same thing, that as soon as one goes in, more are on the way.”

On the eve of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Canadiens on Saturday afternoon at the electric Bell Centre, the Rangers had faith in Nash. Vigneault had a tangible reason for that.

There is a statistic NHL teams keep that is not made public because of its subjective nature, called “scoring chances.” They’re tallied for and against, and it’s noted who is on the ice while each of them is happening.

So who is the best on the Rangers this postseason when comparing chances-for versus chances-against? Rick Nash, the Goalless Wonder.

“Every game we analyze the game, we analyze the scoring chances for and against, and he’s our top player,” Vigneault said. “For some reason, he’s in a little bit of a funk right now as far as finding ways to put the puck in the net. But the looks are there.”

Nash is as easygoing a superstar as one can imagine, especially in the midst of a slump, and could only smile when asked if thought he was due for a goal.

“Overdue,” he said. “I would definitely say overdue.”

Yet the 6-foot-4 winger, who is carrying a $7.8 million salary-cap hit for the next four seasons, is not shying away from the fact he is hurting his team by not producing. It’s a question that might have been danced around in years past, but at this point, already having won two series over stout competition in the Flyers and Penguins and advancing to the conference finals for the second time in three years, there is no longer a reason to attempt to veil the obvious.

“The team picture is so much bigger than my individual struggle,” Nash said. “We’re here to win games, and not to worry about me scoring. Me scoring can help that, and obviously it’s an issue. [I am] definitely frustrated and definitely been through all those stages, for sure.”

“I do know that he’s disappointed that offensively he’s not contributing,” Vigneault said. “Obviously, until he does, that’s going to linger in his mind.”

Nash certainly has contributed in other ways, as his coach and teammates will attest. He has killed penalties with a vengeance, logging an average of 55 seconds of shorthanded time per game, sixth among forwards, and also has pounded out 21 hits as opposed to the 11 he had in 65 regular-season games.

“Chances are coming here and there [and the] defensive game has been solid,” he said. “But I need to start scoring.”

It speaks to the makeup of the Rangers as a whole to have gotten this far without Nash scoring. They have also endured more than a handful of down games from Martin St. Louis, Derek Stepan, and the continued struggles of No. 1 defenseman Ryan McDonagh, who didn’t turn it around until midway through the Pittsburgh series.

Yet above all is Nash, a boon waiting to come — a boon that is necessary if the Blueshirts want to be playing for the Stanley Cup in early June.

“Just trying every night to score goals and put the puck in the back of the net, but it’s a bigger picture than me struggling,” Nash said. “This is about a team trying to win a championship.”