By JASON ROSS NHL star Nicklas Backstrom says his new goal celebration isn’t about celebrating winning.
Rather, it’s about making sure his teammates can.
He and the New York Rangers will celebrate on Thursday night after their victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins, the team Backstrom is playing for this season.
“We have to have that confidence in our teammates that we’re going to keep going and fight,” Backstrom said after the win over the Penguins.
“The more we keep fighting and keep fighting the more confidence you have in the guys that are around you.”
Backstrom and the Rangers (11-8-3) are trying to stay unbeaten in their last six games, their best start in nearly three decades.
They’re playing at home for the first time since March 1 and have won eight of their last nine, with back-to-back wins over the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.
“It’s a really good feeling to be playing here and be able to come here and win games and have confidence in my team,” Backstra said.
“And that confidence comes from my teammates.
They keep me motivated, keep me going and give me that confidence to keep fighting.
That’s the main thing.”
The Rangers are one of the NHL’s youngest teams, but Backstrom believes he’s getting the best of them.
“You can see the guys are getting better every day,” he said.
“(We) just need to continue to play good hockey and keep going.”
Forward Kevin Hayes said Backstrom has a knack for creating chances for his teammates.
“I think it’s just his mentality that makes him so dangerous,” Hayes said.
The Rangers have lost seven of their past eight games.
