Gus Nyquist hasn’t scored in 19 games and has tallied one goal in 33 games, and even meeting the owner of his namesake wasn’t enough to shake him out of his scoring slump.
Paul Reddam, owner of Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist and a lifelong Detroit Red Wings fan, was on hand for Wednesday’s Wings game at Anaheim against the Ducks, a night when no Wings at all scored in a 2-0 setback.
For his part, Nyquist is doing his utmost to try and focus on the happy times when he was a productive, goal-scoring NHLer, and not become mired in the disappointment of his current skid.
“I don’t try to think back to past slumps,… Nyquist said. “I probably try to think of more times when I’ve put the puck in the net. Those are better thoughts to think of, and I think that’ll give me a more positive mindset.…
Both Nyquist and Detroit coach Jeff Blashill see only one element lacking from Nyquist’s game. Unfortunately, as someone who is paid to produce, it’s the illuminating of red lamps that has vanished from his repertoire.
“Just putting the puck past the goalie, to be honest with you,… Nyquist assessed of what’s missing from his arsenal. “I think I’m getting chances, I just can’t find a way to put the puck past the goalie and that’s something I’ve got to do a better job of, but as long as I’m creating chances, it’s got to turn eventually.
“I know you can say that but hopefully it will.…
It’s exactly the reasons Nyquist stated above which has convinced Blashill to continue to roll the dice with his slumping sniper, figuring the odds eventually must even out.
“The only thing I want to say, I see a work ethic and I see a complete level,… Blashill said of Nyquist. “I haven’t seen him not work and not compete. I think that’s been pretty consistent, to be honest with you. I thought he was excellent in Ottawa.
“You want to be everybody at their optimal but the reality is nobody plays at their optimal every night. I think our whole team needs to get on the inside more and our whole team needs to go to the net more and stop and our team needs a better shooting mentality and our whole team needs to hit the net more.…
Nyquist does his best to maintain perspective and put team goals ahead of his personal skid.
“We’re in a situation where we need tons of points here and a lot of wins,… Nyquist said. “There’s no reason to get down on yourself even more. I’ve just got to stay positive and grind with it.… From a personal standpoint, all he can do is keep plugging away until he starts putting the puck in the net again.
“You’ve just got to focus on the next shift,… Nyquist said. “If you miss one, you’ve got to create another chance to put the puck past the goalie. So that’s what you’ve got to focus on.… Schedule Update Left with a three games in three nights scenario when a postponed game at the Carolina Hurricanes was rescheduled for March 27, the Wings moved to lighten their load somewhat.
The March 26 game at Joe Louis Arena against the Minnesota Wild has been moved up to a 12:30 p.m. start.
Follow me on Twitter @asktheduffer