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Rangers hope for more goals from Rick Nash

New York Rangers v Montreal Canadiens

MONTREAL, QC - APRIL 12: Rick Nash #61 of the New York Rangers waits for face-off during the NHL game against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre on April 12, 2014 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Rangers 1-0 in overtime. (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)

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Fair or not, people tend to slam stars when their teams struggle and they don’t score goals.

Sidney Crosby’s feeling that right now, even though he’s notching assists for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Rick Nash finds himself in that predicament once again, especially when you get selective with his numbers: just one goal in 16 playoff games with the New York Rangers.

Sure, he has four assist in the first four games of this series but ... zero goals.

Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault told ESPN that he doesn’t doubt Nash’s efforts.

“Rick really wants to do well and he’s trying every shift he’s on the ice to put his best foot forward,” Vigneault said on Saturday. “It’s a tough league. The opposition, when you have an elite player like that, obviously has a plan. He’s got to keep working. He’s got to try to elevate his game. He knows he’s a big part of us having success, winning games and moving forward.”

“The one thing I don’t have doubt about him is his willingness.”

It’s difficult to bury him when you look at shots alone. He’s fired at least five shots on goal in every game this series (23 overall), even if there might be some doubts about the quality of those attempts. The 29-year-old was similarly snake-bitten in the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs, only connecting for one goal despite firing 42 shots on goal in 12 games. Overall, his playoff shooting percentage is just 2.6 versus his career regular season mark of 12.4.

To some, that might be a sign that he can’t get it done in the postseason. Others might say he’s mostly unlucky. Either way, the judgments will only get harsher if the Rangers can’t win this tied series against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins