Rangers call up forward Jayson Megna from Hartford
New York Rangers forward Jayson Megna (23) attempts a tip-in with the puck as Devils goalie Cory Schneider (35) defends during the third period in an NHL preseason game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015. Credit: AP / Rich Schultz
With center Derek Stepan sidelined four to six weeks with two broken ribs, Jayson Megna was summoned from Hartford on Monday afternoon, but his Rangers debut had to wait.
The Rangers have 12 healthy forwards, but Megna, 25, apparently was called up in case one of them couldn't dress for some reason, perhaps an illness or a minor injury. During his morning briefing, coach Alain Vigneault had said he did not anticipate any immediate call-up.
Megna, who played 48 games for Pittsburgh over two seasons before signing a one-year, $600,000 contract with the Rangers as a free agent last summer, skated in warm-ups wearing No. 23 but did not take line rushes.
It was unclear whether he will stay with the team as an extra. Stepan is on injured reserve and the Rangers play the Islanders in Brooklyn on Wednesday and host Colorado on Thursday.
Good game for Brassard
Derick Brassard played one of his better games in the past few weeks, with his first goal in seven games and an assist. He had a team-high six shot attempts, four on goal, and won eight of 13 faceoffs in 18:35.
"He's got to lead the ship," Vigneault said. "He's our top centerman right now. There's no doubt that his line, all three of those guys, seemed to be at the top of their game. [Mats Zuccarello also scored.] They were playing against a big, physical centerman and a line that's real strong defensively, and I thought they did a real good job."
Win gives Lundqvist a lift
A relieved Henrik Lundqvist, who is scheduled to start against the Islanders, relished the mental boost from the win. "You feel like you're on top of your game and then you lose three games and you start wondering and thinking," he said. "You need to break it down and believe in what we have in our system. A win is always big. It's always something you can build off."
