2018 Season so Far
This year the Boston Bruins have been led by their youth. The young players have come as advertised and propelled the Bruins to the top of the Eastern Conference. Riley Nash doesn’t fall under that category. He is in his seventh NHL season, but he’s been key this year. Through seventy games he has a career high of 15 goals and 25 assists. He’s stepped up when the Bruins needed him the most and been key for this team. Like the other veterans on this team he’s complemented the rookies well and is quietly having a career year.
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Riley Nash’s First Year in Boston
Prior to the 2016-2017 season Nash spent the first five years of his NHL career with the Carolina Hurricanes. In Carolina the most points he had in a season was 25. This year, with 12 games left, he already has forty. In his first season in Boston Nash scored seven goals and contributed ten assists. This year has been much different for the former Hurricane who wasn’t seen as a big part of the Bruins offensive attack. He’s spent a lot of time on different lines contributing wherever he’s been put. Head coach Bruce Cassidy has shown his faith in Nash and even moved him up to the first line when for an injured Patrice Bergeron.
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Why Riley Nash Is Critical
Lately Nash has had to step up as the injury bug has hit the Bruins. This has been critical, considering the Bruins are one of the youngest teams in the NHL. What has made this team so good is the different weapons they have. Nash has surprisingly been one of those weapons. He’s not just a sniper, as lately he’s been crashing the net and earning his goals.
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Prediction Going Forward
In the playoffs the Bruins don’t need Nash to be an elite scorer. If he plays like has in the regular season, then the Bruins could have a very dangerous top three lines. So far this year they have been a gritty team. They need to continue that come playoff time once some of their key players like Bergeron and Backes return. Even with their return the play of Nash will still be key.