Rangers center Brassard diagnosed with mumps

EDMONTON -- New York Rangers center Derick Brassard has been diagnosed with the mumps.

Rangers coach Alain Vigneault confirmed Brassard is the most recent NHL player to contract the virus.

"He got up this morning and has the mumps, so we're looking at getting him back home right now," Vigneault said prior to the Rangers game against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place on Sunday night. "We're going to send him home. All of our guys have had their shots.

"It's nature, maybe it's because we played against Pittsburgh on Monday and he played head-to-head against [Sidney Crosby]. Maybe Sid gave it to him. I don't know? He's got it now, and now we have to deal with him."

Brassard is the second Rangers player, 14th in the NHL, to have been diagnosed with the mumps this season. Crosby was confirmed to have the virus earlier in the day.

Rangers left wing Tanner Glass was diagnosed with the mumps in late November.

"Our doctors, and I'm sure all the teams in the NHL, have done everything they're supposed to," Vigneault said. "Or guys have had their shots, they were tested for whatever they were supposed to be tested at the beginning of the year. Some guys are more prone to it than others. They've been taken care of. It's just nature; it's a virus.

"There is nothing I can do about it. I'm going to play with the healthy guys."

Glass will take Brassard's place in the lineup against the Oilers.