NHL

Rangers defenseman Staal praised by brother

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Marc Staal (background) celebrates with Anton Stralman after scoring the winning a goal in overtime Monday night. (Getty Images)

It is all that has happened since that moment that creates an audible pride in Eric Staal’s voice.

It was Feb. 22, 2011 when Eric concussed his younger brother, Rangers defenseman Marc. After a long and difficult road back to his All-Star form, Marc put an exclamation point on his return Monday night at Madison Square Garden, when he scored the game-winning goal in overtime as the Rangers beat the Capitals, 3-2, in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference semifinal. It gave the Rangers a 3-2 series lead going into tonight’s Game 6 in Washington.

“For me, that’s when the really, really good players come out to play,” Eric told The Post yesterday by phone from a golf course in North Carolina. “It’s another level, it’s amped up, it’s totally intense.”

Marc has scored two goals in 12 games this postseason, the other being the game-tying score in Game 7 against the Senators in the first round.

“In the games that have really mattered so far, the important Game 7, the game [Monday] when you want to get up 3-2, the huge games, he’s been one of their best players,” Eric said. “Those are character things, those are the great moments. I think he’s only going to be better as a player as years go on.”

Eric lamented the fact he was on the golf course instead of on the ice, as his Hurricanes did not make the playoffs. He watched the game Monday at his Carolina home with their second youngest brother, Jordan, who plays for the Penguins, eliminated by the Flyers in the first round.

“I was pretty excited when they tied it up,” Eric said of Brad Richards’ goal to make it 2-2 with 7.6 seconds remaining in regulation. “Then obviously with the overtime goal, it got me off the couch, and that doesn’t happen very often.”

Eric has spent some time thinking about the hit he put on Marc that night in Raleigh, N.C., which began a series of events that caused Marc to miss the first part of this season. He made his debut on Jan. 2 at the Winter Classic, played outdoors in Philadelphia, and has been gradually given a bigger role as the season progressed.

“It’s a moment that is part of the game, it happens, it’s behind us,” Eric said. “It’s behind us and something you don’t worry about.”

Coach John Tortorella has spent the better part of the playoffs fielding questions about Marc’s game by not comparing him to his pre-concussion days, but instead looking forward.

“Yeah, he’s playing well,” Tortorella said after an optional practice yesterday in which Marc did not participate. “Everyone keeps on asking me — he still can improve, there’s still more there.

“He’s still a very young man in the game, and I think that helps him to get a little offense there. He’s been one of our better [defensemen] as far as getting up the ice. But I’m not going to be hugging people left and right, we still have quite a ways to go.”

Eric, on the other hand, would probably very much enjoy laying a big hug on his younger brother.

“I think the big moments and big games, his performance has gotten even better,” Eric said. “That shows the type of player he is and I’m excited for him to score a huge goal.”