Keith Yandle celebrates his goal that made it 3-1 late in the second of Game 4 with Rick Nash and Kevin Klein. Nash came to life in Game 6 with a goal and three assists in another big win in an elimination game. 
AP Photo by Chris O’Meara/Getty Images

In their 7-3 Game 6 victory last night, Rick Nash was a big factor registering a goal and three assists for a career playoff high four points. Most of the focus was on Derick Brassard who recorded his first career hat trick and five points in the Blueshirts’ latest big win in an elimination game. Brassard was brilliant along with the rest of the top line featuring Nash and perfect complement J.T. Miller, who scored his first postseason goal to go with three helpers allowing the unit to combine for 13 points.

For Nash who doesn’t turn 31 until June 16th, there’s no time like the present. Brought in from Columbus by general manager Glen Sather to help the Blueshirts win a Stanley Cup, the playoffs haven’t been kind to him. In the first two rounds, he only scored two goals and had seven points entering the Eastern Conference Final against the dangerous Bolts featuring Triplets Tyler Johnson, Nikita Kucherov, Ondre Palat along with sniper Steven Stamkos, Alex Killorn and overlooked former Wing Valtteri Filppula.

Through the first three games of the series, the Big Nashty didn’t get off to an ideal start getting blanked on the score sheet. He took a fair amount of criticism from the media with NBC’s Mike Milbury and Jeremy Roenick roasting him. In the playoffs, when your top offensive star isn’t scoring they leave themselves wide open for such commentary. Especially Nash who prior to Game 4 remained stuck on six goals in his first 52 postseason games as a Ranger and seven total in 56 overall counting one appearance with the Blue Jackets in 2009.

With his team trailing in the series 2-1, Nash responded with his first playoff career two-goal game to go with a helper in a convincing 5-1 win in Game 4. In that one, he set the tone by beating Ben Bishop on a breakaway and later scored a power play goal by getting the jersey dirty by going to the net and knocking a loose puck in. It was exactly the kind of performance he needed.

Following a listless Game 5 for the Rangers that saw the Lightning shut them down in a 2-0 road win that put them on the brink, the voices came back. It wasn’t just for Nash who most notably took the team out to a private screening of Entourage prior to Game 4. They all got plenty of blame aside from Henrik Lundqvist, who gave them a chance to win. Following the disappointing loss, most of the talk centered around missed chances with them unable to score on four power plays which got progressively worse.To a man, they knew they had to be much better to avoid elimination with coach Alain Vigneault telling the media his team had to play its best game to stay alive.

While Tuesday’s win wasn’t perfect by any stretch with Lundqvist bailing them out with some huge saves to hold onto a 2-1 lead after two periods, they responded by playing their best period of the series. In particular, the cohesive trio of Brassard, Miller and Nash who scored three of their five goals to put the game away. That included some strong play by Nash and Brassard leading to Miller’s first postseason goal that made it 3-1. Following a large contribution from the fourth line with James Sheppard rewarded with his first postseason goal, Nash’s combination of strength and skill was on display when he stripped Tampa defenseman Andrej Sustr moving the puck to Miller who slap passed across for an easy Brassard finish. 

“That second goal Brass scored today, yeah I passed it over to him but Nash makes the whole play happen,” Miller told Daily News writer Pat Leonard afterwards. “He stole the puck, beat the guy there, outmuscled him, left it. If that doesn’t happen, there’s no play. That’s what he does. He’s an animal.”

When Nash plays like that, he’s impossible to stop. In their last two wins both coming on the road where they seem more comfortable, Nash has tallied three goals and four assists for all seven of his points in the series. He’s been shutout at home in Games 1, 2 and 5. Oddly enough, the Rangers have only scored four goals in the three games at MSG where they’re 1-2 against the Lightning. They must flip the script on Friday to advance to a second straight Stanley Cup Final. Throw the statistics out. All the Game 7 history is meaningless. This has been an unpredictable series. By now, they know they must play even better to keep their championship aspirations alive.

“I think we’ll enjoy tonight and get back to work tomorrow,” Nash said. “It’s one game and it doesn’t matter what you did. It only matters what you’re gonna do. We’ve got to move on to the next one and not sit on this too much.”

Well stated from a player who understands the big challenge ahead. One thing about Number 61’s playoffs. It’s been a roller coaster. His seven points in Games 4 and 6 have him up to second in team scoring with 14 points (5-9-14) trailing only Brassard whose five-point herculean effort vaulted him up to 16 with a team-leading nine goals. Suddenly, Nash’s postseason doesn’t look that bad. However, if he doesn’t back up Tuesday night with another strong performance at MSG, the Blueshirts could be hard pressed to win. It’s that line that’s done the damage and been most effective against Tampa tandem Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman because they’re able to work down low and make things happen.

Indeed, they could use more from line 1B with Derek Stepan without a point over the last three and temperamental Chris Kreider taking a undisciplined retaliation penalty late in the first yesterday leading to ex-Blueshirt Ryan Callahan beating Lundqvist for a power play goal. The USA connection can play better along with Jesper Fast, who was more noticeable in Game 6.

It would also help if the third line of Carl Hagelin, Kevin Hayes and Martin St. Louis actually chipped in at even strength. They haven’t done much and weren’t even a factor last night. Though Hagelin was noticeable defensively causing some turnovers. Hayes also missed the net from the slot way wide causing a Bolts’ odd-man rush that Lundqvist had to snuff out.

Is Game 7 the one captain Ryan McDonagh has an impact? He’s been quiet most of the series drawing a tough assignment against the speedy Triplets and Stamkos with partner Dan Girardi. Marc Staal at least stayed on his feet yesterday. More than we can say for Kevin Klein, who was beaten badly by Kucherov on one of his goals. Does Vigneault consider breaking them up? Neither has been a good match-up for the Bolts’ speed. Perhaps he should shift Dan Boyle up to Staal and Klein back to Keith Yandle. Both of who have had an impact offensively. We’ll wait and see.