The Rangers may have found their missing piece in Brett Berard. The 23-year-old winger made quite an impression in his NHL debut Monday night, helping New York secure a tight 3-2 win over the St. Louis Blues.
Head coach Mike Sullivan’s decision to call up Berard from Hartford is already looking pretty smart.
The young forward brought exactly what the Rangers needed – speed, energy, and an aggressive style of play that kept the Blues on their heels. In just over 9 minutes of ice time, Berard fired two shots on goal and created several other chances.
“He gives us that extra gear, that physicality we’ve been looking for,” Sullivan said after the game.
It hasn’t been an easy road for Berard. After getting cut late in training camp, he struggled to find his game in the AHL. The points weren’t coming, and his confidence took a hit.
But something clicked these past few weeks.
He started lighting up the scoresheet in Hartford, basically forcing the Rangers to give him another look.
Playing alongside Conor Sheary, Berard looked right at home at Madison Square Garden. From his very first shift, he was hunting pucks, attacking the net, and creating the kind of offensive pressure the Rangers have desperately needed.
The team’s overall play picked up as the game went on. Alexis Lafreniere tipped in the go-ahead goal, and Adam Edstrom added what turned out to be crucial insurance.
There was one scary moment – Berard took a high-sticking penalty late in the game. But the Rangers’ penalty kill came up huge, fighting off a 6-on-4 Blues attack in the closing minutes.
While Berard didn’t get on the scoresheet, the numbers don’t tell the whole story. He showed he can be that energy player who gets the forecheck going while still playing smart in all three zones.
With injuries mounting – J.T. Miller out and Vincent Trocheck being a game-time decision – Sullivan needed someone who could step in and make an immediate impact.
Looks like he found his guy.
