MONTREAL — Unless all the looks at the morning skate were deceiving, the Rangers will play Monday’s Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals without Derick Brassard.
Brassard, who suffered an upper-body injury on a shoulder-to-shoulder open-ice hit delivered by Montreal defenseman Mike Weaver 3:03 into the Blueshirts’ 7-2 Game 1 victory on Saturday, was on the ice for the skate but did not take part in either the line rushes or the power play drills.
Dominic Moore, who recorded a pair of dazzling assists while substituting for Brassard in Game 1, remained in the slot between Mats Zuccarello and Benoit Pouliot.
Daniel Carcillo, scratched from the last four games after getting into three matches apiece against the Flyers and Penguins, skated at left wing on the fourth line that had Brian Boyle at center and Derek Dorsett on the right.
And Rick Nash, who completed Saturday’s scoring spree with his first goal of the playoffs, remained on the second PP unit with Zuccarello and Pouliot. Nash’s goal came with a man-advantage.
“Brass is day to day,” coach Alain Vigneault said. “As far as lineup decisions, I haven’t finalized that. It’s like any other game. You’ll find out when the puck drops.”
Brassard, whose Game 1 consisted of two shifts worth 35 seconds, has been one of the Rangers’ best players throughout the tournament, recording four goals and three assists. He was hit hard by Weaver in the offensive right wing circle from the blind side after sending a pass — that he watched — to Pouliot.
The center went down to one knee after taking the hit and skated slowly to the bench, where he remained for the rest of the first period, receiving intermittent neck massages from head athletic trainer Jim Ramsay. Brassard did not return to the bench after the first intermission.
Weaver’s hit may have been a tad late, but the Rangers have not made it an issue.
“You finish all your hits. I’m not a guy that is out to hurt anybody. I was just finishing my check,” Weaver, who was not penalized, said after the Canadiens skated on Monday. “I didn’t hit high or anything like that. It was shoulder to shoulder.
“I look back at the hit, I thought it was a clean hit. I’m not a dirty hitter.”