On Sunday, Brett Berard was on the verge of winning his third straight game in AHL Hartford when he received a call from Rangers assistant GM Ryan Martin.
Instead of joining the Wolfpack, Berard was told he would be heading to New York to make his NHL debut with the Blueshirts on Monday night against the Blues at Madison Square Garden.
The call-up couldn't have come at a better time for Berard, who has been the Wolfpack's leading scorer with 13 points (seven goals and six assists) in 16 games so far this season.
“I think the biggest thing for me is just staying confident,” Berard said. In 11 minutes and 13 seconds on ice, he recorded two shots on goal, one hit, and one takeaway, and recorded his first NHL point (secondary assist). The Rangers lost 5-2. “I think [my confidence] It's expensive. At Hartford, I was trying to get up here, so I think I was trying to bring what I learned there so far this year here and make my own play.
“This is the same game I've been playing since I was 3 years old. It's a bigger stage in New York City and it's a great place to play. I'm very excited and I want to play my best.” Just do it.”
The 22-year-old rookie will likely serve as the Rangers' second line alongside Mika Zibanejad and Will Quill on the right wing.
He also manned the second power play unit with Quill, Riley Smith, Kaapo Kakko and Zach Jones.
Berard said he felt great in training camp and expressed he is ready for this opportunity. The fact that he was one of the last players left in the preseason indicates he could be close to getting that call-up, he said.
Berard, a Rhode Island native, said he expects a large family crowd to be in the stands Monday night.
“Sometimes you only get one chance to prove yourself,” said Berardo, the 134th overall pick in 2020. “I got that chance tonight, so I hope I can go out there and do what I'm supposed to do.” Ta.
Alexis Lafreniere joined the Rangers' first power play unit in place of the injured Chris Kreider.
Igor Shesterkin started against the Blues on Monday and stopped 38 of 42 shots.
