Derick Brassard was raised in Canada and spent nearly six seasons playing in Columbus, but he was born for Broadway.
Playing in only his fourth career playoff game, the 25-year-old center, who was traded to the Rangers on April 3 as part of the deal for Marian Gaborik, had his second straight sensational game. He recorded two assists in a 4-3 win last night over the Capitals, which sends the first-round series back to Washington tied at two.
On Monday, Brassard tied a Rangers record with three points in his Madison Square Garden playoff debut.
"I'm a guy with a lot of passion and you can say that it came back when I got traded to New York," Brassard said last night in the locker room, while sporting the team's Broadway hat. "I'm having fun. They've showed a lot of confidence in me and I'm just trying to help the team. I know I can bring some offense.
"We have a lot of talent on this team and that's why I'm really excited. We can do a lot of damage and I want to be part of it."
RANGERS PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Brassard said after Tuesday's practice he believed the offensive momentum from Game 3 would carry over into Game 4. He made sure his prophecy came true, beginning with a cross-ice pass to Carl Hagelin, who gave the Rangers a 2-0 lead with a rising slap shot midway through the second period.
Then, with the team's inept power play taking the ice to start the third period — 1-for-16 in the series at that point — Brassard slipped a beautiful backhand through the middle of the zone and through two defenders out to Dan Girardi at the point, who put the Rangers back in front, 3-2, less than one minute into the third period.
"He's fun to have in the room and he's obviously making a lot of plays," Hagelin said of Brassard. "He's a skill-guy with speed. You're always going to welcome a guy like that."
Brassard, who had five goals and six assists in 13 games with the Rangers during the regular season, said he feels more comfortable with the team than he has at any point since the trade occurred.
Though he began the series with two forgettable performances in Washington, he has since been revived by a crowd he hasn't taken long to embrace.
"I knew how intense the games would be in the playoffs, but when you start on the road it's a lot harder and I was a little bit nervous," Brassard said. "I just started relaxing here and I feel the crowd. I play with emotion and I play with passion and it's a lot easier when you play at home.
"Just the fact of coming back in our building in front of our fans, we know it would help a lot. That's why home ice is really important in the playoffs. We don't have it in this series, but if we win in Washington we have a chance to close it out."
howard.kussoy@nypost.com
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