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Derick Brassard’s Career Game Forces Game Seven For New York Rangers

By Steven Carollo

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New York Rangers’ center, Derick Brassard, had a career game in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning to force a Game 7.

In a do or die Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals for the New York Rangers in Tampa Bay, vs. the Tampa Bay Lightning, Rangers’ center, Derick Brassard, had the best game of his career to date.

New York Rangers
New York Rangers /

New York Rangers

Ever since Brassard has been a Ranger, he has found ways to elevate his level of play in the playoffs and rise to the occasion. There is no greater example of this than Brassard’s clutch performance last night.

In Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals vs. the Lightning, in Tampa Bay, Brassard started the scoring by giving the Rangers a 1-0 lead in the 1st period and also finished the scoring by adding an empty net goal late in the 3rd period, capping off of Rangers’ 7-3 Game 6 victory, forcing a Game 7 back at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Brassard’s final stat line in last night’s Game 6 was 3 goals and 2 assists, totaling 5 points, with his two line mates, Rick Nash and J.T. Miller, contributing a goal and 3 assists each, totaling 4 points for each of them and 13 points for that line combined.  Not only that but Brassard also recorded 10 shots on goal in Game 6 and was robbed by Lightning goaltender, Ben Bishop, a couple of times throughout the game.  Brassard literally played so good in Game 6 last night that he could have had 5 goals, but I am sure he was content with his 3 goals and the Rangers’ win in Game 6.

Usually when the Rangers win a big game, it is starting goaltender, Henrik Lundqvist, who is the main reason for the win but last night that was not the case.  Granted, Lundqvist did keep the Rangers in the game before the Rangers’ offense was able to pour it on in the 3rd period but overall I cannot say Lundqvist was at his best.

Game 6 was Brassard’s night to be the Rangers’ hero and he did just that.

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Some even say his Game 6 performance was similar to
Mark Messier‘s in the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals vs. the New Jersey Devils, but I would not go that far.  Messier’s Rangers in 1994 won Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals and then went on to win the Stanley Cup.  If Brassard’s Rangers lose Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals vs. the Lightning at Madison Square Garden on Friday night then his great Game 6 performance last night becomes meaningless.

Regardless though, there is no doubt in my mind that without Brassard’s great Game 6, there would not even be a Game 7 on Friday night back at Madison Square Garden.

Do you agree?

Next: New York Rangers Force Game Seven vs Tampa Bay

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