Frank Nazar gets more comfortable with Blackhawks, feeling NHL game slow down

CHICAGO Frank Nazar isnt on Natural Stat Trick or any other analytics website checking out his individual expected goals percentage for the Blackhawks .

But if he was, he has a sense of what numbers hed see.

I dont know, from what it feels like, it should be high, Nazar said with a smile.

And Nazar would be correct.

Outside of Ryan Donato , a one-man shooting machine, Nazar is second among the Blackhawks over the last 18 games with 7.35 individual scoring chances per 60 minutes in all situations, minimum 200 minutes.

Hes also second in scoring chances in five-on-five play and second in high-danger chances.

Theres no doubt the quantity and quality are there.

Advertisement Blackhawks interim coach Anders Sorensen can attest to that, too.

Nazar is passing the eye test, but Sorensen is also someone who is well aware of the analytics.

His expected goals for himself is high, Sorensen said.

He hasnt capitalized on some of them, but hes been getting those opportunities and thats really important.

The goals havent rushed in yet.

Nazars stuck on the just one he scored against the Colorado Avalanche on Jan.

8.

But that hasnt discouraged him.

He may only be 21, as of earlier this month, but he knows how the game works.

If you create enough quality chances over time, you are usually rewarded.

When he was with the Rockford IceHogs earlier in the season, the floodgates eventually opened for him and there was a stretch where he scored seven goals in eight games.

But even on top of his scoring chances, Nazar has just looked more and more comfortable in the NHL .

Hes carrying the puck more into the offensive zone.

Hes more assertive in his decisions and not looking to simply defer to teammates.

Hes tapping into his speed more efficiently.

Hes using it to create space for himself and his linemates with the puck and pressuring opponents without it.

Honestly, I think its been great, Nazar said of his game lately.

I think the last four games have probably been my best four.

Obviously it helps playing with Connor (Bedard) and Bert ( Tyler Bertuzzi ).

I think just getting that confidence over the first 10, 12 games and just being able to understand the game.

I think everything is slowing down a lot for me.

Even if youve watched just the last 12 games, its like (theres a) chance every game I could have scored.

Just keep going until they go in.

Hopefully it keeps coming after that.

Just staying confident and playing my game.

Nazar has seemed to find another level since joining Bedard and Bertuzzi.

Nazar is technically playing more on the wing than center, but there are opportunities to interchange at center with Bedard.

Time will tell whether Bedard and Nazar could be a long-term line combo, but Sorensen is pleased with early returns.

Advertisement Its working right now and they seem to be playing off each other well, Sorensen said.

Again, we mentioned this before, the way we play, whoevers taking the faceoff or whoevers arrived first in the D-zone, he plays low, so its not like they have to switch.

A lot of times the way the game is played, thats what happens.

Having two centers on a line is a benefit a lot of times.

Nazar was full of compliments for Bedard and Bertuzzi, too.

Its been a lot of fun (playing with Bedard), Nazar said.

You dont get a lot of chances to play with a high-end guy like that.

Hes just so smart with the puck and getting to good spots.

It just makes the game a lot easier and opens a lot of room.

Im hoping parts of my game can help parts of his and vice versa.

I think Berts unreal.

So good down low and smart and hes skilled.

I dont think a lot of people see the skill that he has.

I think thats a big part that is working for him.

To get a better sense of what Nazar is doing well, here are some clips from his shifts in the Blackhawks last game against the Carolina Hurricanes.

In this first one, Nazar carries the puck into the zone and is looking for his shot.

Thats followed by more shots by the Blackhawks, movement in the offensive zone and a few connected passes.

The play doesnt result in anything, but this is the type of hockey the Blackhawks want to be playing.

Nazar also was more passive when he was first recalled.

I think its just gaining the trust of your teammates, just making sure they trust you to make a play, Nazar said.

I think as Ive kept on getting games in and starting to make more plays, starting to get more trust from guys, starting to get more pucks from everybody, I think thats a big thing.

Obviously when your teammates trust you to make a good play, youre going to feel confident making a good play.

I definitely think that helps a lot.

A lot of these clips are different examples of how Nazar can use his speed.

On this one, he supports Bertuzzi on a breakaway.

On this one, he nearly creates a turnover.

Sorensen noticed how often Nazar seemed to be wherever the puck was against the Hurricanes.

I thought last game he was one of our better forwards in terms of creating chances and being around the puck, Sorensen said.

His skating is noticeable when hes working off the puck and thats something weve talked with him (about) a lot and I thought he was really good last game, so its trending the right way.

Nazar races back on this one to defend an odd-man rush.

Heres that one special scoring chance he seems to have every game: On the next one, he drives the middle and pulls a defender his way.

Bedard doesnt get the pass, but he was wide open in the slot because of what Nazar did.

Thats my game, Nazar said.

Im going to use my speed in whatever ways beneficial to my team.

If its pushing the D and driving the net, thats what Im going to do.

If I was a winger coming in with a guy driving the net, and he kicked it out to me and he pushed the D back and I had all this time and space to make a play, Id be thanking him.

Im hoping guys will do that for me, so Im going to do that for them.

I know thats probably the best play at the time.

If I give Connor time like that, you know good things are going to happen.

Nazar does something similar on this play with the Blackhawks on the penalty kill.

Ilya Mikheyev opts to shoot it himself.

Nazar has been using that speed on the forecheck, too.

In the following clip, he forces the Hurricanes into a turnover and the Blackhawks retain possession in the offensive zone.

Finally, Nazar and his line contribute with a goal.

Nazar still has room for growth, but hes getting there in the NHL.

Hes following the same trend hes had at every level.

Ive said this before, but its a learning curve at every level you move up to, he said.

When I moved up from travel to NTDP, it was like, learning curving.

I came in, I was the 13th forward.

By the end of it, I was doing really well.

Going to Michigan, first season wasnt very good, learning curve.

Came back second year, felt good, confidence a lot better, started making plays.

Same thing, come here, learning curve.

Its always going to be that.

Advertisement For different guys, its different.

Guys can come in and make an impact right away.

I think its just been a thing throughout my career.

Like I said, Im getting those chances.

Those shots, those opportunities are there.

Its a matter of fact executing and getting them to the back of the net.

Once they start going in and start going in more and more, dont look back from there.

(Photo: Steve Roberts / Imagn Images).

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