Nashty Boy: Rick Nash (center) is congratulated by J.T. Miller (left) and Mats Zuccarello (right) after scoring another goal.
AP Photo by Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press

As expected, the NHL changed the scoring on the fourth goal of last night’s Rangers 4-2 win over the Capitals. Initially, Martin St. Louis was credited with his second of the game on a crucial power play that sealed their seventh consecutive win. However, MSG’s Joe Micheletti was the first to point out on the replay that it looked like Nash’s goal due to the puck going off Braden Holtby and not St. Louis.

That it took so long makes it the longest delayed hat trick ever. I’m kidding. Fans didn’t get to toss hats on the ice. It is ironic that Nash’s first hat trick as a Ranger wasn’t celebrated. His first two seasons were bittersweet with him battling injuries and struggling to perform in the postseason. That resulted in criticism from fans and media alike. We all wanted to see him do well. It was frustrating.

One change I’ve noticed is Nash’s willingness to go to the dirty areas this season. He’ll score the dirty goal. Whether it’s due to health or fitness, he’s a much better player. Look at how dangerous he is on the penalty kill where he has three shorthanded goals. Just as many as he has on the power play.

It’s nice to see Nash get rewarded. He’s been money. Without him, there’s no telling where they’d be in the standings. Nash has scored 23 of the Rangers’ 97 accounting for 23.7 percent of the offense. Only league leader Tyler Seguin has a higher percentage with 25 of the Stars’ 95 equaling 26.3 percent. If they move up in the division which is becoming more possible now that they’ve closed to within six of the Islanders, Nash could get Hart consideration. He’ll get plenty of competition from Evgeni Malkin, Ryan Getzlaf, Tyler Johnson. Vladimir Tarasenko and Pekka Rinne. Unless their teams improve, it’s hard to see Seguin, Jakub Voracek, Claude Giroux or Mark Giordano in the conversation.

For the Garden Faithful, this is the player we thought we were getting. A lot has been made of the trade that sent Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimov as the key pieces along with Tim Erixon and a 2013 first round pick (Kerby Rychel) to Columbus for Nash. The first two years, you could’ve made the argument that it was tilted towards the Jackets who made the playoffs led by Dubinsky. With him and Anisimov fighting injuries and Nash finally healthy, it looks lopsided in favor of the Rangers. As a Blueshirt, Nash is up to 70 goals, 47 assists and 117 points in 141 games. Nashty.