Derick Brassard takes a faceoff.
AP/Matt Slocum

The mumps epidemic has hit the Rangers. Apparently, Derick Brassard has it. Just great. Our number one center is out for tonight and possibly longer. Brassard had been on a major roll. With two assists last night, he extended his point streak to five straight (2-5-7). After a slow start, he has 20 points (5-15-20) over his last 19 games.

Centering top scorer Rick Nash, Brassard has been huge so far. He ranks second in points (24), first in assists (16) and first in power play points (3-5-8). He becomes the second Blueshirt to be infected by the mumps. Tanner Glass missed a couple of games the previous week. He returned to the lineup Monday but was a healthy scratch at Vancouver. Glass is back in tonight replacing Brassard.

Obviously, that’s a huge downgrade. However, Alain Vigneault will move Chris Kreider up. Glass can slide in on the fourth line. The big dilemma is what to do with our center situation. Derek Stepan has been centering J.T. Miller and Martin St. Louis. Brassard had anchored Nash and Mats Zuccarello. Does Vigneault shift Miller back to center or keep him on a cohesive line? What about Kevin Hayes? He has such good chemistry with Carl Hagelin and Lee Stempniak. Unless he decides to shift St. Louis back to center with Nash and Kreider, it throws a monkey wrench into things. Dominic Moore anchors Jesper Fast and Glass.

Honestly, there isn’t a good solution. Losing Brassard hurts. Hayes has been playing well but from a faceoff standpoint, ouch. Between him and Stepan, they don’t win enough draws. Moore is the only reliable player. This is going to affect the Rangers from a puck possession standpoint. Hopefully, Brassard isn’t out too long. After tonight’s visit at Edmonton, they play Calgary Tuesday and then don’t play again until next Saturday at Carolina. Hopefully, that’ll be enough recovery time for Brassard.

Mumps is a big problem. With Sidney Crosby finally diagnosed after missing a second consecutive game, it’s a wonder what the Penguins medical staff were doing letting Crosby talk to reporters in the locker room. It really is bizarre.