Brassard returns to Rangers lineup for Game 4

NEW YORK -- The New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens are making lineup changes for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final on Sunday at Madison Square Garden. Some are by choice; others are due to an injury and two suspensions.

The Rangers lead the best-of-7 series 2-1.

Rangers center Derick Brassard is in the lineup after missing the past two games and most of Game 1 with an upper-body injury. He skated in between his usual linemates, Benoit Pouliot and Mats Zuccarello, during warmups.

Brassard has seven points in 15 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He was injured early in Game 1 on a hit by Montreal defenseman Mike Weaver. Brassard played two shifts totaling 35 seconds in Game 1.

Forward J.T. Miller is also in for the Rangers. He'll play on the fourth line with Brian Boyle and Derek Dorsett.

Miller hasn't played since May 5, when Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Second Round series against the Pittsburgh Penguins was played at the Garden. Miller has two assists in three games in the playoffs.

Rangers center Derek Stepan (broken jaw, surgery) and forward Daniel Carcillo (suspension) are not in the lineup.

Montreal coach Michel Therrien is making a change on his third defense pair, inserting veteran Francis Bouillon for rookie Nathan Beaulieu, who had been in the lineup the past five games but played only 8:53 in Game 3.

Bouillon, who will be paired with Weaver, hasn't played since May 3, when Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Second Round series against the Boston Bruins was played at TD Garden. He was minus-2 in 9:18 of ice time in that game and has one goal in six games in the playoffs.

In addition, Canadiens forward Michael Bournival is in the lineup, replacing Brandon Prust, who was suspended two games by the NHL's Department of Player Safety for interference on his hit on Stepan 2:45 into Game 3.

Montreal forward Thomas Vanek, who was demoted to the fourth line for Game 3, has been bumped up to the third line to play with Lars Eller and Rene Bourque. Dale Weise is on the fourth line with Daniel Briere and Bournival, who has been a healthy scratch for the past two games.

Here are the lineups for each team based on how they skated in warmups:

RANGERS

Carl Hagelin - Brad Richards - Martin St. Louis

Chris Kreider - Dominic Moore - Rick Nash

Benoit Pouliot - Derick Brassard - Mats Zuccarello

J.T. Miller - Brian Boyle - Derek Dorsett

Ryan McDonagh - Dan Girardi

Marc Staal - Anton Stralman

John Moore - Kevin Klein

Henrik Lundqvist

Cam Talbot

Injured: Derek Stepan (broken jaw)

Scratched: Jesper Fast, Raphael Diaz, Justin Falk

CANADIENS

Max Pacioretty - David Desharnais - Brendan Gallagher

Alex Galchenyuk - Tomas Plekanec - Brian Gionta

Rene Bourque - Lars Eller - Thomas Vanek

Michael Bournival - Daniel Briere - Dale Weise

Josh Gorges - P.K. Subban

Andrei Markov - Alexei Emelin

Francis Bouillon - Mike Weaver

Dustin Tokarski

Peter Budaj

Injured: Carey Price (right knee)

Scratched: Nathan Beaulieu, Douglas Murray, George Parros, Jarred Tinordi, Travis Moen, Ryan White

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