“I just try to take advantage of the opportunities I’m given,” Nash said. “That’s like a lot of guys. If they’re given more ice time, they try to seize that. I think there’s a lot of guys in the lineup that can step in and play a lot of different roles. I think that’s a really good attribute for our team. It speaks to our depth. When you’re fortunate enough to get a couple extra shifts, you try and take advantage.”

Instead, when Cassidy believed changes, including those to the third line, were required to bust a 1-1 tie, he gave Riley Nash the nod to take over duties as the No. 3 center. Like most of Cassidy’s moves since replacing Claude Julien, promoting Nash paid off. The wing-turned-center helped the Bruins score the game-winning goal.

VANCOUVER — Bruce Cassidy had choices on Saturday against Philadelphia. He could have kept Austin Czarnik as his third-line center. He could have promoted Dominic Moore. He could have shifted David Backes from right wing to pivot.

With Ryan Spooner out because of a concussion, Cassidy considered it an opportunity to evaluate Nash, who’s played mostly right wing, at center in a more offensive-minded role.


“Nash is a centerman. He’s played center in the past,” Cassidy said. “He hasn’t gotten a lot of opportunity to do that. That’s part of it. We want to see how he’s looked in that role. We know Ryan’s coming back. But in the short term, is Nash better in the middle than the wing? Can he do a good job there? Can he create some offense? Because the fourth line is a little bit of a different role. He can still create a little bit of offense. But let’s face it — it’s an energy role for him.”


Nash started the game as the No. 4 right wing alongside Matt Beleskey and Dominic Moore. But for the opening draw of the third period, Cassidy gave Nash a promotion to center the third line between Beleskey and Drew Stafford.

For their first shift, Nash’s line squared off against Philadelphia’s No. 3 threesome of Brayden Schenn, Sean Couturier, and Matt Read. For their last shift, the third-liners raised their hands to celebrate Stafford’s winner with 5.6 seconds remaining in regulation.

As Stafford gained the offensive zone, Nash provided crucial middle drive. On Nash’s initial approach, he drew the attention of Brandon Manning. By the time Nash got close to the net, he had also attracted Andrew MacDonald. Once Manning identified that MacDonald was marking Nash, the defenseman peeled off in search of his next move. It wouldn’t go very well.

With two defensemen watching Nash, Stafford only had to beat a backchecking Valtteri Filppula. Stafford sent a flip on net that got past Filppula’s check, bounced off Manning’s stick, and tumbled past Mason for the winning goal.

Nash’s middle drive was an example of the plays his bosses expect him to make — dependable if not entirely flashy. In 67 games, Nash has four goals and seven assists for 11 points, which places him 15th on the team in scoring. Nash has a 54.7 Corsi For rating, sixth-highest among regular team forwards and a good percentage given his status as a bottom-six forward.

The Bruins, however, aren’t necessarily counting on the 27-year-old to rack up points. They are asking Nash to kill penalties, play every position, and move up and down the lineup when necessary, such as when Spooner is out of uniform.


Nash is averaging 1:53 of shorthanded ice time per game, second-most among team forwards after Patrice Bergeron (2:00). Nash usually kills with Moore (1:50) as his partner. The more shorthanded shifts Nash and Moore can take, the more breathers the coaching staff can give Bergeron and Brad Marchand, the other primary PK tandem.

During a brief practice on Sunday at Rogers Arena, Nash centered the third line between Beleskey and Frank Vatrano, his likely position on Monday. Spooner (concussion) practiced and is improving, but has not been cleared to play against Vancouver. Tim Schaller (lower body) is out for the entire trip.

When he’s given the green light, Spooner will center the third line. Nash will most likely go back to the fourth line. His spot there is not set in stone. On Feb. 23, for the first time this year, Nash was a healthy scratch against Los Angeles.

“It’s happened before in my career. If my career goes longer, it’s probably going to happen again,” Nash said. “You just try and take from it what you can. You get a refresher and see the game from a different angle. You realize different things. You have more time with the puck than you think. When things like that happen, you’re squeezing your stick too hard and you think everything’s happening a lot faster.”


The Bruins signed Nash to a two-year, $1.8 million contract on July 1 partly to fulfill expansion requirements. Each team must expose at least two forwards who are signed through 2018 and have played either 40 games in 2016-17 or 70 games in the last two seasons combined. Nash already fits this criteria.

Based on his play, the Bruins would not want the Golden Knights to pluck Nash from their roster. The coaching staff can depend on the veteran to do different things. Coaches like having such players at their disposal.

Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at fshinzawa@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeFluto.