When the Rangers take the Garden ice for a critical Game 4 tomorrow, they’ll get back Derick Brassard. After missing the last two games with an upper body injury, he declared himself ready to go. He sustained an injury due to a hit from Canadiens’ defenseman Mike Weaver a couple of shifts into Game 1.

“I was told he cleared himself,” coach Alain Vigneault sarcastically told a group of reporters after practice. “That’s good to know. He didn’t tell me.”

With Derek Stepan’s status doubtful due to a broken jaw suffered on a late hit by Brandon Prust, at least the Rangers will have Brassard. He can return and center Benoit Pouliot and Mats Zuccarello. After having solid chemistry with Dominic Moore, they were ineffective in Game 3. Getting Brassard back should certainly help. He also can provide a boost on the power play which went 0-for-2.

Brassard’s return comes at a perfect time with Daniel Carcillo suspended 10 games for making physical contact with linesman Scott Driscoll. Carcillo received Level 2 of a mandatory suspension. Level 3 would’ve been three games.

“I can’t begin to tell you how bad he feels about the whole thing,” Vigneault said. “His situation, his personal future, the team. There’s nothing he can do about it now and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

“I heard a lot about him before but I don’t have one bad thing to say about him,” added Brad Richards on Carcillo.

With Vigneault indicating that Stepan was “unlikely” for Game 4 due to recovering from surgery which included a plate, J.T. Miller will take his place in the lineup. Miller has played in three postseason games tallying two assists with both coming in the first round against the Flyers. Since playing Game 3 of the second round against Pittsburgh, he’s sat out seven in a row.

It’ll be interesting to see how Vigneault uses Miller. Will he slide him on the top line or move Moore up? Maybe he’ll mix and match with Chris Kreider and Rick Nash. He hasn’t been afraid to double shift his best players. It won’t be easy to replace Stepan, who’s picked it up. With an assist in Game 3, he extended his playoff point streak to five straight (1-6-7). That includes a goal and four helpers in the first three games against Montreal. Everyone must step it up without him.