Bewerbungen » s in 2012, and posted the highest rushing total by a

Rick Nash is playing vintage Rick Nash regular-season hockey.After he arrived via trade from the Columbus Blue Jackets on July 23, 2012, Nash was supposed to push the New York Rangers to postseason glory and bring the Stanley Cup back to Madison Square Garden. Since then, the Rangers have been on the brink. They lost in the finals to the Los Angeles Kings in 2014, and then in the 2015 Eastern Conference finals to the Tampa Bay Lightning.But Nash didnt exactly deliver on expectations.Now, however, hes playing with urgency and determination.Far better, said one Western Conference scout. Hes moving his feet more and controlling the puck. The biggest difference is he looks determined to make things happen.Hes dynamic, said an Eastern Conference scout. Hes hard to handle offensively.Hes focused. His production is up slightly after a disappointing 2015-16 season, when he finished with 36 points in 60 games. This season, he has 13 goals and seven assists for 20 points in 30 games -- just two shy of his goal total for all of last season. He leads the team with 88 shots. After missing four games with a groin injury, in his first three games back, he has two goals on 10 shots, and is plus-3. He suffered another groin injury during Sunday nights win over the Devils, which will reportedly keep him out for at least the remainder of this week.?Nash, 32, will become an unrestricted free agent after next season. His cap hit is $7.8 million, but despite the teams salary constraints, it would be a mistake for the Rangers to move him to clear space. After being in the league for 13 seasons -- eight of which he never sniffed the playoffs -- Nash fully understands how difficult it is to win a Stanley Cup and knows his best chance of achieving that goal is with the Rangers.For that reason, this could be the season he steps up in the playoffs. His window of opportunity is closing, and he knows it.[When] hes on top of his game, hes one of the best players, said Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. The way he can skate, hes strong, he takes pucks to the net and thats how he scores most of his goals. ... When he decides to go there and pay the price like hes doing, hes going to get a good result.I just like his game overall. He just works really hard at both ends of the ice. Hes not all about points -- definitely not. Hes a really great team player in the locker room and on the ice. Its important for us to have him [playing] this good because it makes a big difference in a lot of tight games.But weve seen this before.Hes had great regular seasons, said the Eastern Conference scout.Implied, of course, is that he hasnt performed in the playoffs. Nash has played in 65 Stanley Cup playoff games, scoring 12 goals and 24 assists for 36 points. He has averaged 0.43 goals per game in the regular season, but that average plummets to 0.18 in the playoffs.Why?Its tough to say, but he has been an enigma in the playoffs, said an Eastern Conference scout. Hes not as effective in a tight-checking game.During the playoffs, teams tighten up defensively and add layers of coverage. Nash is a great one-on-one player. Hes big, strong and hard to handle. But he has struggled in playoff-style games, when the checking tightens up.Nash is at his best when hes controlling the front of the opponents net with his big body and strength to create havoc. Thats where hes scoring the majority of his goals -- in the dirty areas -- which is exactly what the Rangers need from him, especially during the playoffs. Hes showing that, when healthy, hes able to keep his 6-foot-4, 212-pound frame moving, and when he does that, hes a tough player to defend one-on-one. Hes working the puck out of the corners and along the walls and taking it to the net with authority, which is something he lacked last season.There are so many things to like about his game right now, said an Eastern Conference scout.The Rangers are a good team with one of the best goalies in the world. Nash needs to be the type of player who makes everyone around him better; he needs to find a way to break free from the checking. A Stanley Cup-winning team needs that heartbeat, that extra gear found by its top players.Those types of players drive your team, said an NHL executive. Thats what elite players do.Given his abilities, Nash is capable of reaching that level. If he can establish that in the playoffs, thats where hell build his legacy because elite players -- Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, Anze Kopitar -- produce on a consistent basis when the stakes are highest.Not only is there pressure to perform on the ice, but Nash also needs to be a leader off the ice in order to help the Rangers young core of talent. Becoming a leader is something he had to get comfortable with early in his career as the top pick in the 2002 draft.I felt that pressure pretty early in Columbus with it being a new franchise and [me] being a first overall pick, Nash said. My second year I was the assistant captain, so I felt that [pressure] really early, but as you get older, it gets more important off the ice. Its important to show these guys how you handle yourself away from the rink, and [how to be] comfortable in their surroundings. Thats been the biggest adjustment for me as a leader, to make sure theyre doing all right off the ice.Nash smiles when he compares his first few seasons in the NHL to those players who are making the jump from the collegiate level to the pro ranks. Rookie Jimmy Vesey, 23, has been playing on a line with Nash.Its a bit different for me; I came in when I was 18, Nash said. I got captain when I was 24, so its a bit different, but the one thing you try to explain to guys coming in the league is that you have to be a good defensive player first. If youre known for scoring goals, goals will come as long as you play well defensively, and playing on his line I try to preach that to him.It took Nash time to understand that two-way concept, too, especially after coach Ken Hitchcock took over the Blue Jackets and started using him to kill penalties.He had me out there in the last minute of games, Nash said, so thats when it clicked that if you want to be an all-around good player, you have to learn to play defense, and obviously my first couple of seasons my minuses were pretty bad.Nashs game has progressed and his peers still consider him one of the top regular-season players in the league. The window for him to win the Stanley Cup is getting smaller and he and his teammates must seize the moment.Rick Nashs time is now. Nike Free Outlet Store . Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the crease on the right side. Nike Free Clearance . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. http://www.nikefreediscount.com/ .S. Open champion Justin Rose birdied the first hole with a blind shot he hit to a foot of the pin, and he stayed in front Tuesday until he completed a 4-under 67 for a two-shot lead over Jason Dufner in PGA Grand Slam of Golf. Nike Free Discount . Argentina winger Ezequiel Lavezzi and France midfielder Blaise Matuidi scored, with star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic setting up both despite having a poor game by his high standards. Forward Eduardo gave Ajaccio the lead in the sixth minute after being set up by right winger Benjamin Andre, and the Corsican side looked comfortable in the first half, with the lively Johan Cavalli causing problems with his probing runs from midfield. Nike Free Clearance Sale .com) - The game was all punts and field goals before Kodi Whitfields catch. ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Falcons found themselves in another tight game.This time, they came through with the winning play.After two excruciating losses, the Falcons rallied for a 33-32 victory over the Green Bay Packers when Matt Ryan threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Mohamed Sanu with 31 seconds remaining Sunday.With Julio Jones shut down in the second half, Ryan turned to Sanu to bail out Atlanta (5-3). He caught five passes for 50 yards on the final possession, the last of them a touchdown pass in the back of the end zone after he got matched against linebacker Jake Ryan.The Green Bay player didnt have a chance. Sanu raced past him and hauled in the pass right in front of the goalposts, the ball easily clearing Ryans outstretched hands.Weve got the greatest receiver in the NFL, but weve got other great guys in that room, too, Sanu said. When our number is called upon, we went out there to do what we do.The Falcons were coming off a 26-24 loss at Seattle and a 33-30 overtime setback to San Diego in which they squandered a 17-point lead at home.Given what happened a year ago -- Atlanta started the season 6-1, then lost six in a row and missed the playoffs -- it was imperative to turn things around against the Packers. It didnt look good when Aaron Rodgers threw his fourth touchdown pass, putting the Packers ahead with 3:58 remaining.Its just finishing, Sanu said. We didnt finish the last two weeks and we finished this week.Sanu had nine catches for 84 yards, both season highs in his first year with the Falcons. Atlanta needed every one of them, since Jones was held to three catches for 29 yards and targeted only once in the second half -- a dropped pass on the final possession.But Jones helped Sanu get open on the winning play, drawing two defenders when they lined up on the same side of the field.Ryan was 28 of 35 for 288 yards and three touchdowns.They dont call the guy Matty Ice for no reason, Sanu said. The guy has ice in his veins.Rodgers threw for 246 yards, teaming up with a bunch of unknown receivers as the banged-up Packers played without six starters. Linebacker Clay Matthews and receiver Randall Cobb were among those who couldnt go because of hamstring injuries.Three Green Bay receivers -- Geronimo Allison, Trevor Davis and Jeff Jaanis -- got their first career touchdown.ddddddddddddAllison, in fact, had just been promoted from the practice squad and never caught a pass in an NFL game. Ditto for Davis, a rookie who had mainly been used as a returner.Thats our job, to go out and make plays regardless of whos in there, Allison said.The Packers took a 32-26 lead after the Falcons were caught with too many men on the field, giving Green Bay a first down rather than having to go for a fourth-and-1. Rodgers went to Janis for a 7-yard touchdown with 3:58 remaining, followed by a 2-point conversion.It wasnt enough. Sanus touchdown tied the game, and Matt Bryant booted through the winning extra point. Bryant had already become the Falcons career leading scorer, passing Morten Andersen, with a PAT after Atlantas first TD.SACKING THE PACKAdrian Clayborn had the first multi-sack game of his six-year NFL career, bringing down Rodgers twice in the second half.Vic Beasley Jr. also had a sack, giving him 6 1-2 over the last four games and 7 1-2 for the season.RODGERS RUNSRodgers was also Green Bays leading rusher with a career-high 60 yards on six carries. He broke his previous best of 57 yards in 2012, and posted the highest rushing total by a Packers quarterback since Don Majkowskis 88-yard effort in 1990.INJURY REPORTThe Falcons lost tight end Jacob Tamme to a right shoulder injury on the opening possession.Tamme took a hit at the end of a 13-yard reception and left the field holding his right arm.UP NEXTPackers: Return home next Sunday to face the Indianapolis Colts (3-5), in what will be the only game played in Green Bay during the month of November. After that, its three straight on the road.Falcons: Have only three days to prepare for a Thursday night game at Tampa Bay (3-4), which is coming off a 30-24 overtime loss to Oakland. This will be the second meeting between the NFC South rivals; the Buccaneers opened the season with a 31-24 victory in Atlanta.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry. ' ' '