Derick Brassard said he was “100 percent” so many times, it got hard to believe him.
The Rangers center returned to practice on Wednesday one day after leaving the ice holding his lower back, and declared himself ready for Thursday’s Game 1 of the team’s opening-round playoff series against the Flyers at the Garden.
“There’s no question in my mind, it [was] just a precaution,” said Brassard, who returned to his line with Mats Zuccarello and Benoit Pouliot, as well as with them on the second power-play unit. “The day off I kind of had [Tuesday], to get off the ice, it really helped me to be 100 percent and I’m going to try and help the team win some games.”
Brassard brushed off the idea consecutive days off on Sunday and Monday made him more susceptible to a flare up in his back, and he said it “was good just to get away from the game and just to get away from the rink a little bit.”
He did admit he had been dealing with an injury near the end of the season, and this break has allowed him to heal somewhat.
“You go through a season and you battle injuries — everyone does around the league,” he said. “It’s a long season. I think that’s why we got those two days off. Probably a few days ago, I was not 100 percent, but I think the last two days, I think I’m 100 percent and that’s what counts. I want to be ready and help the team win.”
Ryan McDonagh said he is excited to return to the lineup after missing the final five games of the regular season with a left-shoulder injury, and after two full days of practice, was adamant about his health.
“No restrictions or anything,” McDonagh said. “So at this point, there’s no reason to ask how it’s doing anymore. I feel good, I’m excited for the game.”
McDonagh is not going to be surprised if the Flyers come after him.
“They’re going to try and get the puck on my side, it’s part of the game,” he said. “It’s not going to be coincidence if it comes on my side more than any other.”
With McDonagh coming back, it appears Raphael Diaz is going to be the odd man out on the backend.
Diaz had played the final 11 games of the season, and though coach Alain Vigneault was non-committal, indications from practice point to John Moore staying in to form a third pair with Kevin Klein.
“I’m not going to get into who’s going to play and who’s not going to play, we’ll see that [Thursday],” Vigneault said. “But whoever we use, whether it be Diaz or Johnny Moore, whoever, I’m very confident with the practices we’ve had, with the video prep that we’ve had, that those guys are going to be ready to go on the ice and execute.”