‘Fiery’ Brett Berard scores, impresses in return to Rangers lineup
As Jonathon Quick put the finishing touches on his 34-save shutout victory over the Nashville Predators on Sunday, Brett Berard stole some of the veteran goalie’s thunder late in the third period by hammering home his first NHL goal since Jan. 2, capping an all-around great game by the rookie forward.
Recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League on Saturday, Berard made the most of his second chance in the NHL this season. This after recording seven points (three goals, four assists) in 19 games before he was sent down to the Hartford following an overtime victory against the New Jersey Devils on Jan. 9.
“I told him ‘you’re going to get another shot’,” Rangers forward Jonny Brodzinski explained postgame Sunday. “I’m happy to see him put one in the back of the net.”
The veteran was right; Berard rejoined the Rangers and put his stamp on their 4-0 win against the woeful Predators. The 22 year-old forward logged 10:57 TOI, put five shots on goal and tallied three hits and two blocked shots. His speed and aggressiveness were on full display.
Berard added his fourth goal late in the third period at 16:57, blasting a shot from between the circles off a Sam Carrick feed. It was a goal scorer’s goal, a reminder that Berard led Hartford with 25 goals as a rookie pro last season.
“Him and [Brennan Othmann] play a very similar game where they’re going to hit everything that skates, shoot everything too,” he said. “Berard especially, you could see with that shot that he didn’t have a lot of room, put it right underneath the bar.”
Though the goal was not a difference maker, it did not stop Berard from enjoying an epic celly, dropping to one knee and pumping his fist, with a big smile on his face.
“It didn’t matter if that game was 8-0, he was going to celebrate like that. That’s just the type of personality he’s got; he’s fiery,” Brodzinski said.
With the NHL Trade Deadline coming up Friday, it’s a bit hard to predict Berard’s place moving forward this season. He could be a bottom-six fixture should the Rangers want an extended look at him and fellow rookie Othmann. Or he could end up back in Hartford when Chris Kreider comes off IR at some point.
The Rangers shipped Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey to the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday, netting them Juuso Parssinen, Calvin de Haan and two draft picks in return. Veteran forward Reilly Smith was out of the lineup on Sunday for roster management purposes, signifying that another move should be coming soon.
If Smith is moved as expected that should help keep Berard in New York.
Related: Winners, losers from Rangers’ 4-0 win over Predators
Zac Jones comfortable with big minutes, thanks to stint in Hartford
Berard and Othmann aren’t the only recent call-ups from Hartford helping the Rangers in the playoff race. Zac Jones played two AHL games on a conditioning stint right before Adam Fox sustained an upper-body injury and landed on IR last week. Jones replaced Fox in the lineup the past two games.
“I think we hit the timing right on that little conditioning stint where he went down and got into game shape,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette explained. “Now he’s able to jump in and excel in a game where he does take on some minutes.”
Jones led the Rangers with 22:15 TOI against the Predators, which also marks a new NHL career high for the 24-year-old. At Hartford, Jones averaged 25+ minutes in his two games. In 99 career NHL games, he’s averaged 15:31 TOI.
He may not have gotten on the score sheet Sunday, but Jones played a strong two-way game. Like Berard and Othmann, he is trying to prove he can be a fixture at some point in the Rangers lineup.
Their next chance to do so comes fast, when the Rangers host the Islanders on Monday night at MSG.
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