AZ Republic - Nash seeks 1st goal

Nash seeks 1st goal

Aggressive wing has been shut out in 6th NHL year

David Vest
© The Arizona Republic
Mar. 30, 2006 12:00 AM

SAN JOSE - Spectators at Coyotes home games love it when left wing Tyson Nash comes flying onto the ice because they know it won't be long before the long-haired fourth-liner throws his body into an opponent.

But while Nash's aggressive checking style keeps scoring with the fans, Nash isn't scoring goals and is flirting with the first no-goal season of his six-year NHL career.

"Everybody wants to score goals and everybody should score a few goals a year so I'm definitely not happy with it, and, yeah, it's been a little frustrating," Nash said. "I'm definitely not here to score goals, but everybody's got to contribute something."

Nash, who has missed 27 games because of injuries and was a healthy scratch once, entered the season averaging 5.4 goals per year after his first five NHL seasons.

"It just seemed like all year I wasn't getting good chances," Nash said. "But the guys are feeding me pucks now and it seems like I've had more opportunities lately."

Nash took a season-high seven shots on goal Tuesday vs. Nashville but none got by Predators goalie Tomas Vokoun.

"Now it's almost like I'm snake-bitten, if there is such a thing for a non-goal scorer," Nash said, only half-jokingly.

Nash feels comfortable playing on a line with veteran center Mike Ricci and rookie enforcer Josh Gratton, and thinks the recently assembled trio is a good mix.

"It's been so fun to have them out there with me," Nash said. "I've kind of had (similar linemates) my whole career. In St. Louis, we had a line like that and I feel we really haven't had a line like that all year this year and I feel it's so nice to have that . . . Gratton makes a lot of room for everybody out there."

Doan nears milestone

Shane Doan scored just six goals in the season's first 35 games, yet the second-year captain will set a career-high for goals scored in a season the next time he lights the lamp.

Coincidence or not, Doan has been a different player since he was named to Canada's Olympic team in December, and enters tonight's game with 27 goals, including 10 in the 13 games played since the Games.

No time for nerves

Here's the skinny on forward Bill Thomas' NHL debut:

Thomas arrived at Glendale Arena on Tuesday a little late and not expecting to play after spending the afternoon at a Valley mall buying a new suit.

Coach Wayne Gretzky quickly told Thomas he needed him to play in the game, which started in about 30 minutes.

"He said, 'There's no time like right now,' " Thomas recalled. "I said, 'All right.' "

Thomas said there wasn't enough time to get nervous.

"I was more shocked than nervous and just trying to get dressed in time."

Ice chips

Center Dave Scatchard, who missed Tuesday's game, did not accompany the team here because of nagging bronchitis.

Defensemen Paul Mara and Jamie Rivers, who also missed Tuesday's game because of the flu and a foot injury, respectively, did make the trip but aren't expected to play tonight. Defenseman Matt Jones was recalled from top affiliate San Antonio on Wednesday.