‘It’s crazy to have that much action’: Kamloops’ Nash part of historic five-overtime game, enjoying life in NHL bubble

“After the game, we were walking back and we’re trying to figure out, trying to run through the game and certain plays trying to decipher what overtime period or at what point in the game all of that happened,” he told CFJC Today from his Toronto hotel within the NHL bubble. “It’s so hard because you play, I think we ended playing two-and-a-half games in total. It’s crazy to have that much action.”

He says the Blue Jackets were loose a day after the heartbreaking loss. They’re just focused on evening the series in Game 2 on Thursday.

“Everybody seems like they’re in good spirits. At the end of the day, it’s just one game. That’s the way you have to look at it,” Nash noted. “Obviously we put in a lot of work and a lot of guys played a lot of minutes. Jonesy set an NHL record. It’s pretty cool. I think given time, hopefully we can reflect on this. It’s an awesome experience for a lot of people. Too bad we came out on the short end, but hopefully we can rebound for Game 2.”

With the five-overtime game, there have been suggestions to go to a three-on-three format or a shootout. Nash strongly disagrees with both ideas.

“I would just hate to see a team lose on a three-on-three after putting in so much good time and effort. I think that’s kind of a gimmick,” he said. “I think it solves a lot of issues in the regular season with not elongated games, but in the playoffs I would feel, say we went to four overtime games and we lost in three-on-three every game, I would feel slighted.”

He’s thankful to be in the bubble afer such a gruelling marathon. The focus is all on hockey and recovery for the next games.

“You’ve got all day to get treatment, lounge around. You have no other responsibilities,” said Nash. “For the guys that have a wife and kids, it definitely makes it a lot easier for them.”

What has life been like inside the NHL bubble? It’s been tough at times without his wife Clare. Nash and teammates have been hanging out and making the most of their time together.

Riley Nash and his wife Clare (Image Credit: Contributed)

“A lot of relaxing. I brought my XBox. There are quite a few guys on the team that brought theirs or their PlayStations. So we’ve been doing that. We have a lounge set up where guys have been playing cards, just hanging, watching TV shows.”

The tournament-style atmosphere brings him back to his minor hockey days in Kamloops when his teams would just bounce between the rink and the hotel.

“You’re basically to the rink and back, having your meals, hanging with the guys on the team,” said Nash. “I remember growing up, probably spending a little more time in the pool when we were young. You’re around your buddies all the time, and you eat, sleep and play hockey, and that’s about it.”

by Chad Klassen

‘It’s crazy to have that much action’: Kamloops’ Nash part of historic five-overtime game, enjoying life in NHL bubble

Our Community