The New York Islanders topped their cross-town rival Rangers for the fourth time this season Thursday night, swapping places in the standings and putting pressure on the Blueshirts, who fell to a wild-card position.
The loss slots the Rangers to play the Atlantic Division champion Florida Panthers in the first round of the playoffs, a move some people think is New York's version of tanking to avoid a matchup with the white-hot Pittsburgh Penguins.
Rangers forward Rick Nash, however, isn't one of those people.
"I can understand why the question (about preferring the wild card) would be asked, but anyone who has ever been in a locker room environment would know that would never happen," Nash told Larry Brooks of the New York Post. "The answer to the question is 'no.' It is the furthest thing from our minds."
He added, "We're going to have to go through those teams sometime. We're going to face a really good team in the first round no matter what."
The Rangers are stumbling down the stretch, having lost of four of their last six. They're 9-7-3 since acquiring Eric Staal at the deadline.
"Our focus is on getting our game together and going into the playoffs with momentum and confidence," Nash said.
The winger, perhaps more than any other Rangers player, is being depended on to turn his individual struggles around in order to help the team.
With only 15 goals, Nash is set to finish with his lowest total since the 2013 lockout-shortened season when he scored 21, and lowest overall since tallying 17 as a rookie.
"I know I have to be better," he said. "I'm happy with my defensive game, but the offense isn't where I know it has to be.
"I know I have to score to help this team in the playoffs."
Ironically enough, Nash's difficulty finding the back of the net has been a theme during the Rangers' past few playoff runs. Perhaps the 31-year-old will reverse the trend by putting together a strong showing this postseason following the most modest offensive season of his pro career.
