Ryder hadn't scored a goal in his previous 12 games and had just one in his last 20. That was actually spread over a 23-game span as Ryder had been a healthy scratch three times in the last nine games.
But back in the lineup with Shawn Thornton, still recovering from taking a skate blade to the forehead on Tuesday, Ryder found himself in position to propel the Bruins to their division-clinching victory over Atlanta with 7:29 left in the third period on Saturday.
"I've struggled to find goals lately," Ryder said. "Last game goalpost, then earlier [on Saturday] crossbar. Just got to try and stay with it. If I keep just working hard and shooting the puck, it'll go in for me."
It finally did when Ryder stole the puck from Zach Bogosian and broke in alone on Thrashers goalie Ondrej Pavelec with the game tied 2-2. Ryder never got the shot off as he was hauled down from behind by Johnny Oduya, but Ryder was awarded a penalty shot.
Ryder is just 1-for-5 on shootout attempts this season and failed to convert his only other NHL penalty shot back in 2005, but he found the net this time as he cut to the middle and beat Pavelec with a shot high to the right side of the net. That stood up as the difference in Boston's 3-2 win as the Bruins clinched the division title and officially eliminated Atlanta from playoff contention.
It was a satisfying moment for Ryder, who's done his best to tune out the criticism he's received for his struggles over the last couple of years.
"I don't pay attention to stuff like that," Ryder said. "People always talk and say things about players [that] aren't producing the way they should, but for me I just block it out. I know what I have to do in order to succeed and help this team me. I just got to make sure I do that night in and night out."
Ryder knows he hasn't been doing that of late, and the goal-scoring drought has been weighing heavily on him.
"You're definitely thinking about it," Ryder said. "You try to block it out, but it's always there, especially when you get a few good chances and the puck doesn't go in for you. It gets frustrating, but you can't let it get to you."
Considering his recent struggles, the last thing Ryder should have wanted was the extra time before a penalty shot to think about it all. But after being upended on his initial breakaway attempt, Ryder didn't mind having a moment to collect himself.
"I think I was too tired to think about anything else," Ryder said. "I was trying to catch my breath and I was hoping to delay it a little longer than they did. I just tried the same thing I tried against Toronto the other night [in the shootout] but today I just hit the net."
It was the only shot of Ryder's that did find the net. He attempted just one other in 17 shifts lasting 13:26. He still has plenty to work on, but it was a much-needed sign of life from a player who's been one of the Bruins' better playoff performers the past two years with nine goals and 18 points in 24 postseason games.
"I think it's just a matter of it was nice to see him score that goal," Bruins coach Claude Julien said. "Obviously it turned out to be a big goal for us, but these are steps in the right direction. I think when he starts feeling confident about doing those things and doing them without over-thinking, he's going to be a good player again."
Ryder certainly doesn't want to be a healthy scratch again.
"You want to be in the lineup, nobody wants to be out," Ryder said. "It's frustrating and I've been there before, so I kind of know what it takes to get back in. It's just working hard and finding your game, and not letting the little things get to you. You just have to make sure when you get back in that you take advantage of the chances that you get."
Ryder took advantage of the most important chance he got on Saturday.
