The optimism concerning the status of Rangers center Derick Brassard only increased after he fully participated in Wednesday’s practice at the Garden.
After missing Game 2 of the Eastern Conference final on Monday night in Montreal with an upper-body injury, Brassard took part in all line rushes along with power-play work in preparation for Game 3 Thursday night at the Garden, the Blueshirts leading the best-of-seven series, 2-0.
Coach Alain Vigneault continued to call him “day-to-day,” but after implying on Tuesday it would take a lot to keep him off the ice, Brassard said he feels good.
“It was really good to be out there with my teammates, and to finish practice was a really good sign,” Brassard said. “I’ll speak to AV and the medical staff and we’ll see what happens.”
Brassard was hurt on his second shift of Game 1 on an open-ice hit from Montreal defenseman Mike Weaver. He played just 35 seconds in the game before being forced to the dressing room, not to return. He has been known to have a balky back.
“I was pretty frustrated when it happened,” said Brassard, a French-Canadian from Hull, Quebec. “When you’re playing in the conference final like that, in Montreal, I was pretty mad about it. But injuries are part of the game. I try to just to heal quicker and get back out there and help my teammates.”
Winger Benoit Pouliot was the only Ranger to miss practice with what the team called “a maintenance day.” Although it was Pouliot’s second consecutive day off the ice, Vigneault shook his head “no” when asked if there was any concern about his availability for Thursday.
Pouliot took two terrible offensive-zone penalties in Game 2.
His spot on the line with Brassard and Mats Zuccarello was filled by J.T. Miller, who has played in three games this postseason, the most recent being Game 3 of the second-round series against the Penguins.
Chris Kreider became the villain of this series when he took out Montreal starting goalie Carey Price with a hard collision in Game 1. Yet his contribution has gone far beyond that.
“As everybody knows, his speed is his best attribute,” said Vigneault, who has the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Kreider on a line with Derek Stepan and Rick Nash. “That speed combined with that strength and size — when he goes in on the forecheck, it’s very tough for the other team’s defensemen.”