NEW YORK -- With Derek Stepan recovering from surgery and Dan Carcillo suspended, the New York Rangers got some good news Saturday with word that Derick Brassard is healthy for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference final with Montreal.
The Rangers centre left early in Game 1 after being checked by Canadiens defenceman Mike Weaver and has not played since.
Brassard told reporters after practice that he was good to go from what was termed an upper body injury.
Brassard had seven points in 15 playoff games and was fourth in scoring for the Rangers during the regular season with 45 points in 81 games.
As for Stepan, coach Alain Vigneault says he was in hospital recovering from surgery to repair a broken jaw. Montreal forward Brandon Prust was suspended for two games by the league for the blindside hit.
Stepan is tied with Mats Zuccarello for second in playoff points for the Rangers with 11 points in 17 games, while Martin St. Louis leads with one point more.
Carcillo, meanwhile, was suspended 10 games for jostling a linesman in the aftermath of the Prust hit.
Game 4 is Sunday night at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers lead the series two games to one.
-With a file from The Canadian Press
