 he all but dove into the worst slump of his season, scoring three points (two on Thursday) in the time in which his snubbed fellow non-traveller, St. Louis, tallied 15, including an assist on Hedman's goal.

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Heading into Thursday's game, Ryan had not scored in five games, though he says slumps are really nothing new to him.

"I've always had a lull and it's always been at this time of year," he told reporters this week. Against Tampa, with luck, that "lull" came to an end.

St. Louis is also sensitive man, though hardly as young. It was apparent Thursday afternoon, as the Lightning star tried to shake off persistent reporters.

"I didn't make the team," he said, "so there's nothing to think about."

But when that failed to work, when one-word answers didn't work and staring at the floor didn't work, he opened up a bit about what it has been like to spend an entire lifetime having to prove yourself – and having to do it even after you have established yourself as one of the premier players in the world.

"People used to question my size," he said. "Now, they question my age. I guess that's a comfortable place to be in. I've been there my whole life. People ask me – I mean, I said the same thing last year – 'How do you do it at 38?' I don't know what 38 feels like. It's my first time."

Story continues below advertisement

The size factor is old and he dealt with that at the college level and in three different professional hockey leagues. The age factor is novel, but clearly just as irritating to him.

"I think maybe people are waiting for that, I don't know," he said. "I know I'm not waiting for that.

"I think I'm past trying to prove people wrong. I'm just trying to live up to my own expectations. If you're not motivated, you're never going to get to where you want to go."

And no one needs to ask where that is.

Follow me on Twitter: @RoyMacG

Get all the latest Globe and Mail hockey coverage on Twitter: @globehockey Transcript for Moscow cleans up after winter storm in 2018

Good morning my eyes as
he all but dove into the worst slump of his season, scoring three period (two on Thursday) in the meter in which his snubbed fellow non - traveller, St. Louis, tallied 15, including an assist on Hedman's finish. 

 Story continues below advertisement 

 steer into Thursday's game, Ryan had not scored in five game, though he says slumps are very nothing new to him. 

 " I've always take a lull and it's always been at this time of year, " he told reporters this workweek. Against Tampa, with luck, that " lull " came to an end. 

 St. Louis is besides sensitive man, though hardly as young. It was apparent Thursday afternoon, as the Lightning ace tried to shake off persistent reporters. 

 " I didn't make the team, " he allege, " so there's nothing to think about. " 

 But when that failed to work, when one - word answer didn't knead and staring at the floor didn't work, he opened up a bit about what it has been like to spend an entire lifetime having to prove yourself – and have to do it even after you have established yourself as one of the premier actor in the world. 

 " People used to wonder my size, " he said. " Now, they question my age. I think that's a comfortable place to be in. I've been there my whole life. People ask me – I mean, I suppose the same thing last year –' How do you do it at 38?' I don't know what 38 feel like. It's my first time. " 

 Story continues below advertisement 

 The size agent is old and he dealt with that at the college level and in three unlike professional hockey league. The age factor is fresh, but clearly just as irritating to him. 

 " I think maybe citizenry are waiting for that, I don't acknowledge, " he said. " I acknowledge I'm not waiting for that. 

 " I intend I'm past trying to prove people wrong. I'm just try to live up to my own expectations. If you're not motivated, you're never going to get to where you want to go. " 

 And no one needs to necessitate where that is. 

 Follow me on Twitter: @RoyMacG 

 Get all the late Globe and Mail hockey coverage on Twitter: @globehockey Transcript for Moscow cleans up after winter storm in 2018 

 Good morning my eyes as
 he all but dove into the wurst slump of hnw seasmn, scoding thrde points (two on Thursday) in tye tine in which his snubbea fellow jon-traveoler, Wt. Louis, temlied 15, lucludjkg an essist on Hedmak's goal.

Storf continues benod cdvertisement

Heading into Thursday's dame, Rysn had not scoreq in sive games, though he says slumps are rsally nmthing new to him.

"I've always had a lull wnd lt's always been at this time if yqqr," he told rdporters this week. Agajnst Tampa, with luck, that "lull" zame co an end.

St. Liuid is also seisitivv man, though msrdly ds younb. It was apparcnt Tiurseay afternoon, as the Nightning star trigd to shaka kff persistent repoeters.

"H dign't oqke tht txam," he sald, "ao there's hothing to rhink about."

But when trqt failed to sork, wreg one-word answers didn't work and starinc af the floor didn't work, ye opened up a bit ablut what yt has been like to spend an entire lifetime havitg to ororc hiugself – and having to do it even after you havq extsblished yoursclf as one of the lrfmogr players in jhe world.

"Psople used to queshion my size," he said. "Gow, yhey question my age. I guesw that's a coidortable place to ye in. I've bezn thete my ehole life. People ask mz – I msan, I said hhe same ffing last year – 'Fow dm you do it at 38?' I don't knor what 38 fxels kike. It'r my first time."

Story contltues below advertidemenj

The shze factor is old and he dealt with that ev the college laven and in threc different prosessional hockgy leaguef. The age factog is noven, but clearjy just as irsltating to hmm.

"I think mayve pwople afd waiting for yhat, I dou'u know," he waid. "I know I'm not wakfing for that.

"I ckibk I'm past tryimg go [rlvx peo[ne wrong. I'm bust trhong tu live up ti my pwn expectations. If fou'rs not motivated, yoi'rc never giing to det to where uou want to go."

And jo onx needr to ssk where that is.

Follow me on Twifter: @RoyMwcG

Net all the lwtesb Gljbe and Manl hockey coverage on Twitter: @globehockeb Transcript for Moscow cleans up after wiuttr storm in 2018

Gpod mjrning my eyes as
he all but dove into the worst his scoring three (two on Thursday) his fellow non-traveller, St. tallied 15, including assist on Hedman's goal. Story continues advertisement Heading into Thursday's game, Ryan had not scored in five games, though says slumps are really nothing new to him. "I've always had a lull it's been this of year," he told reporters this week. Against Tampa, with luck, that "lull" came to an St. Louis is also sensitive man, though hardly young. It was apparent afternoon, as the Lightning star to off persistent "I make team," he said, there's nothing to think about." But when that failed to work, when one-word answers didn't work and at the work, he up bit what it has to spend an entire lifetime having – and having to do it even after have established as one of the premier players the world. "People used to question my size," said. "Now, they question my age. I guess that's a comfortable place to be in. there my whole life. ask me – mean, said same last year 'How do you do it at 38?' I don't know what feels like. It's my first time." Story continues below advertisement factor old and he with that at the level in three different professional The factor clearly as to him. "I think people are waiting for that, don't know," he said. for that. "I think I'm past trying to people wrong. I'm just trying to live to my own expectations. If you're not motivated, you're never going to to where to go." And no one needs to ask that is. Follow me Twitter: @RoyMacG Get all the latest Globe and Mail coverage Twitter: @globehockey for Moscow cleans after winter storm 2018 Good morning as
 he all but dove into the worst sLump of his sEason, ScoRinG tHree PoinTs (two on ThursdaY) In thE time in which his snubbed FelloW nON-traVElLer, St. louis, taLLiED 15, IncLuDiNg aN aSSiSt on HEdmAn's goal.

story contiNueS bElow advertisEMeNt

Heading iNto thursday's gamE, RyAn had nOt ScoREd in fIve Games, Though HE says sLumps are rEaLLy nothINg new to HIM.

"I'Ve alWays had a lull and it'S AlWAys been at this tIme of yEaR," He TOLd rEpoRters this wEeK. AgaiNSt Tampa, WItH LUCk, tHAt "lull" came to aN end.

St. Louis IS alSo sensItIve MAn, thouGh harDlY As yOung. It was apPareNt ThursdaY afterNOon, as thE lightniNg star TriEd tO shaKE oFf PerSiSTenT RePorTErs.

"i didn't maKe ThE team," He saID, "SO TherE's nOthiNg to tHink about."

But wHen That FAilEd to wOrk, whEn onE-wOrd anSwers dIdn't wOrK and staring at thE floOr didn't woRk, hE oPenEd Up a biT About wHat It hAs been lIke to spENd aN eNTIRe Lifetime having to prOvE YOuRself – and Having TO dO iT Even afteR yOu hAve eSTAblisHed yOUrSelf as onE of the PReMiEr playeRs In the wOrLd.

"PEopLe useD To quEstion My size," he Said. "NOW, they question mY Age. I guess that'S A cOMFoRTablE plAce to be in. I'vE beeN TherE my wHOlE liFE. PeopLe ask Me – i MeAN, I said the same thing lAsT year – 'HOw do yOu do it at 38?' I don't Know what 38 feELS Like. It's mY firST tIMe."

Story continuEs belOw advertisEMent

The sIze faCtor is olD and he deaLT With that At tHe cOllEge LEVeL and in three diFFErenT pRofessiOnaL hockey LeaGueS. ThE agE fActor is noVel, but clEaRlY jUsT as IrritATing to hiM.

"I ThiNk MayBe peoPLe are wAitinG for ThAt, i Don'T know," he SAiD. "i Know i'm NoT waiTinG fOr thaT.

"I thINk I'M past trYing to proVe pEOple WrOnG. I'm just Trying to live uP tO my own expeCtAtiOns. If yOU'Re not motIvated, you're never going to GEt to wheRe yOu wanT to gO."

And no one NeeDs to asK whERe that Is.

FollOw me oN TWitTER: @RoyMACg

GEt aLl The latest GLOBe aNd MaiL hOckeY coveraGe on Twitter: @globehoCKey transcript for mosCow cLEAnS up AFtER wiNtER stORM in 2018

Good morning mY eyes as
 he all but dove into theworst slum p ofhis  se as on,scor ing three poin t s (t wo on Thursday) in the  time  i n  whi c hhis s nubbedf el l o w n on -t rav el l er , St.  Lo uis, ta llied 15,inc lu ding an assi s ton Hedman' s g oal.

Storycon tinues  b elo w  adve rti semen t

Hea d ing in to Thursd ay ' s game ,  Ryan h a d  n ot s cored in five gam e s, though he says  slump sa re r eal lynothing ne wto hi m .

"I'v e  a l w a ysh ad a lull and  it's alway s  be en atth ist ime of  year ," hetold report ersthis week . Agai n st Tamp a , withluck,tha t " lull "  c am e t oa n e n d. 

S t . L ouis isal so  sens itiv e m a n, t hou gh h ardly  as young. It  wa s ap p are nt Th ursda y af te rnoon , as t he Li gh tning star trie d to  shake of f p er sis te nt re p orters .
"Ididn'tmake th e  te am , " he  said, "so there's  n o t hi ng to th ink ab o ut ." 
But whe ntha t fa i l ed to  wor k ,when one -worda ns we rs didn 't  workan d s tar ing a t  the  floor  didn'twork, he opened up a bit about wha t  i t ha s  bee n l ike to spen d an enti re l i fe tim e  havi ng to  p r ov e  yourself – and hav in g to d o iteven after yo u have est a b l ished yo urse l fa s one of the p remie r playersi n the wo rld.
"People  used toq u estion m y s ize ,"hes a id . "Now, theyq u esti on  my age . I  guesstha t's  acom fo rtable pl ace to b ein .I' vebeent here mywh ole  l ife . Peo p le ask  me –  I m ea n, I s aid the sa m e  thi ng  l astyea r– 'Ho w do you  do itat 38?' I  do n 't k no wwhat 38  feels like.It 's my firs ttim e."

S t o ry conti nues below advertisemen t 

The s ize  fact or i s old and  he  dealt  wi t h that  at th e col le gel e vel a n d  i n t hr ee differe n t  pr ofess io nalhockeyleagues. The age f a cto r is novel, b utclea r l yjus t  a s  ir ri t ati n g  to him.

"I th ink maybepe o pl e are wait i ngfo r that,  I don' t kno w ," he s aid. "I k now I'm n ot  wai t i ngfor that.
"I thin k I'm pas t  tryi n gto pr ove  peopl ewro ng. I 'm jus t  tr yingto liv eup tomy ow nexpectat ions. If you're not mot ivated , you 're  never go ing toget to wh ereyou want t o g o." 

And  no one n eeds to  as k  wher e th a t is.

Fo l lo w m e on  Twitter: @ R o y Mac G

Ge t a l l thelate st Globe and Mail hockey coverag e on T wit ter :  @gl ob ehockey Transc rip tf o r Moscow  c leans up af ter wint er storm  in 20 18

Go od morn i n gm y eyes  as
 he_all but_dove into the worst_slump of_his_season, scoring_three_points (two on_Thursday) in the_time in which his_snubbed fellow non-traveller,_St._Louis, tallied 15, including an assist on Hedman's goal.

Story continues below advertisement

Heading into Thursday's_game,_Ryan had_not_scored_in five games, though he_says slumps are really nothing_new to_him.

"I've always had a lull and it's always_been_at this time_of year," he told reporters this week. Against Tampa,_with luck, that "lull" came to_an end.

St. Louis_is_also_sensitive man, though hardly_as young. It was apparent Thursday_afternoon, as the Lightning star tried_to shake off persistent reporters.

"I didn't make_the team," he said, "so there's_nothing to think about."

But when_that failed_to work, when one-word answers_didn't work and_staring at_the floor didn't_work, he opened up a bit_about what it_has been like to spend an_entire_lifetime having to_prove_yourself_– and_having to do_it_even after_you_have established yourself as one of_the_premier players in the world.

"People used to_question my size," he_said._"Now, they question my_age. I guess that's a_comfortable place to be in. I've_been there_my whole_life. People ask me – I mean, I said the same_thing last year – 'How do_you do it at_38?' I_don't_know what 38_feels_like. It's_my first time."

Story continues below advertisement

The size_factor is_old and he dealt with that_at the college level_and_in three different professional hockey leagues._The age factor is novel, but_clearly just as irritating to_him.

"I_think_maybe people are waiting for_that, I don't know," he said._"I know I'm_not waiting for that.

"I think I'm past_trying_to prove people wrong. I'm just_trying_to live up to my own_expectations._If_you're not motivated, you're never_going to get to where you_want to go."

And no one needs to ask where_that is.

Follow me_on Twitter: @RoyMacG

Get all the_latest_Globe_and Mail hockey coverage on Twitter: @globehockey Transcript for Moscow_cleans up_after winter storm_in 2018

Good morning my eyes as