By means of his first 15 video games, Brett Berard has performed a lot larger than his 5-foot-9 stature.
The 22-year-old rookie notched the primary game-winning aim of his NHL profession within the Rangers’ 2-1 win over the Bruins on Thursday night time at Madison Sq. Backyard, giving Berard a two-game level streak and a complete of 5 factors on the season.
It was the second time Berard opted to take the shot himself and was profitable on a two-on-one rush with a teammate.
game-winning aim within the Rangers’ 2-1 house win over the Bruins on Jan. 2, 2025. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
This one got here with Will Cuylle within the second half of the primary interval, and Berard went prime nook on Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman to offer the Rangers a 2-0 lead on the 12:53 mark.
Berard skated out and slid on one knee by the zone in an emphatic celebration.
Was it as a result of it was his first aim at The Backyard?
Or was it emotion popping out given the state of the group?
“I think a little bit of both,” Berard stated. “It was pretty crazy, kind of lost control of my body there, but it was pretty funny. It was super cool; it was special.”
Berard scored in an analogous manner for his first NHL aim in Carolina on Nov. 27, when the Rangers’ 134th-overall choose in 2020 saved it himself on a two-on-one rush with Mika Zibanejad.
The Rhode Island native now has three targets, however his feisty and energetic play have been his most noticeable contributions. He additionally chipped in a single block, three hits and a takeaway in Thursday’s victory.
“He’s a fiery guy,” head coach Peter Laviolette stated of Berard. “He plays the game that way. The way that he hits. He was skating hard. He works relentlessly out there. It’s nice to see a guy like that get rewarded. It was a big goal.”
The Rangers opened up the scoring Thursday night time on a aim that got here with extra which means than simply on the scoreboard.
Chris Kreider intercepted Swayman’s clearing try earlier than dishing to Zibanejad crashing the center of the zone.
The Swedish middle’s rebound was collected by Reilly Smith, who backhanded it previous Swayman earlier than Zibanejad swooped in to offer it an additional push over the aim line.
The aim perhaps might’ve gone both manner, however Smith instantly gestured for Zibanejad to go first within the celebratory fist-bump line.
It counted as Zibanejad’s first level since Dec. 11 and first even-strength aim since Nov. 19.
Brennan Othmann has performed within the Wolf Pack’s final three video games, recording a aim and an help with 5 photographs on aim.
“We’ve checked in on reports on him,” Laviolette stated. “They’ve been good. He’s working his way back. He was out for a long time. So he’s working.”
Wolf Pack goalie Dylan Garand, the Rangers’ 103rd-overall choose in 2020, was named the AHL’s Goaltender of the Month for December.
He grew to become simply the sixth netminder in Hartford’s historical past to obtain the respect.
The Rangers are scheduled to apply Friday earlier than they enterprise to Washington to play the primary sport of a back-to-back slate, towards the Capitals on Saturday earlier than touring to face the Blackhawks in Chicago on Sunday.
