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Morning Skate: Let’s list everything that happened since Rick Nash’s last goal
It’s been awhile.
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Lace ‘em up. Time for the Morning Skate.
* * *
RICK NASH FINALLY SCORED
If you watched part of the New York Rangers win over the Florida Panthers on Monday you might have overheard a stat that made you cock your head to the side and readjust your hearing aid.
Rick Nash scored for the first time in 82 days.
Eighty-two days! Here’s a list of things that have happened since Rick Nash last scored:
- Iran dismantled its nuclear weapons program
- Leonardo DiCaprio won an Oscar
- Gravitational waves were discovered
- David Bowie passed away, and so did Professor Snape
- Donald Trump defended the size of his penis
- The Earth completed its latest cycle around the sun
- The Andromeda Galaxy sped even closer towards its inevitable collision with the Milky Way and the fiery death of all life as we know it
Granted, there’s a decent explanation for that since Nash missed all of February with an injury. But the fact remains that one of the league’s supposed best goal scorers still hadn’t shot a puck into a net since the end of December.
That might surprise you. But perhaps it shouldn’t? A part of me shrugged when I heard Rangers broadcaster Sam Rosen reveal that last night. Sure, Nash threw down some of the best regular season numbers of his career last year (42 goals and 69 points, his highest total since 2010-11 in Columbus). But he’s also defined by his poor playoff performances since joining the Rangers (just nine goals in 56 games) which, rightfully or not, have colored perceptions of him as he reaches the back nine of his career.
I don’t know if we should prepare to put Nash out to pasture already. He’s 31 years old, which usually means he has another four or five good years left in him. But just enough red flags have popped up to raise a little concern about the longevity of Rick Nash.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT
- The same could obviously be said about the whole Rangers franchise, considering they’ve mortgaged their future for a short Stanley Cup window. They haven’t played consistently well lately but taking down the Panthers at home was a good sign.
- Florida essentially carried a terrible third period on Saturday into its loss on Monday.
- Mired in a fierce playoff race, the Islanders have gone a whole week without a win. That’s not good.
- The Flyers rebounded nicely from a disappointing loss against their rivals over the weekend.
- The kids looked great yet again in Toronto. This time it was William Nylander stealing the show.
- Maybe the Flames just hate Jonas Hiller.
- Ryan Johansen played his best game as a Predator in a huge win.
NEWS AND NOTES:
- The Sabres picked up another good prospect by signing Minnesota Gophers forward Hudson Fasching.
- The expansion draft will have a major impact on the Hurricanes.
- Senators fans are already looking forward to next season.
- Unlikely heroes are pushing the Flyers to the playoffs.
- The biggest game to watch out for tonight: the Stars taking on the Blackhawks in a Central Division showdown.
- A Stars fan shares this great story about his teenager and the beauty of hockey.
- A Blackhawks prospect is being accused of revenge porn.
- Would the Coyotes trade Max Domi to draft Auston Matthews?
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