When the Boston Bruins sent the New York Rangers a first-round pick, a high-level prospect and forward Ryan Spooner in a trade deadline package to acquire Rick Nash, Boston envisioned the all-star forward scoring big goals for them in a deep playoff run.
While Nash had one goal and a single assist in seven games to open the postseason against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Nash didn't wait long to find the back of the net in the second round, scoring against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first period of Game 1 in their second round series.
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With Boston on the power play, Nash deflected a David Pastrnak point shot through his own legs and through the legs of Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy to give Boston a 1-0 lead. With his back to goal, Nash stuck his stick out and managed to get a piece of Pastnrak's shot, giving the Bruins a lead on the road with 2:49 to play in the first period.
Nash has often been criticized for his lack of postseason scoring. Entering the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, he had 15 goals in 77 postseason games, amounting to 0.19 goals per-contest. In the regular season, Nash has struck 437 times in 1,060 games, a 0.41 goal per-game clip.
That included a run to the 2014 Stanley Cup Final during which Nash led all skaters in the playoffs with 83 shots but scored just three goals on an abysmal 3.6 shooting percentage. That's been the theme of the playoffs in most seasons for Nash, whose career playoff shooting-percentage (5.6) sits well below his regular season average (12.1).
In the first round, Nash scored the single goal on 24 shots on goal, or 4.2 percent.
NHL playoffs 2018: Predictions, odds for Lightning vs. Bruins second-round series
The Bruins currently lead the Lightning 1-0 in the second period of Game 1.