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Brassard: Rangers’ confidence is still there

2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final - Game Two

LOS ANGELES, CA - JUNE 07: (C) Mats Zuccarello #36 of the New York Rangers celebrates his goal with teammates Derick Brassard #16 and Benoit Pouliot #67 in the first period during Game Two of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final at the Staples Center on June 7, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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As frustrated as Brian Boyle was after Game 2 about any talk of moral victories, it sounds like most of the New York Rangers are taking some positives out of their situation.

Despite being down 2-0 to the Los Angeles Kings, a good chunk of the Rangers team - head coach Alain Vigneault included - seemed mostly pleased with their overall play. It doesn’t sound like they’re feeling hopeless by any means, either.

“I think our confidence is still there,” Derrick Brassard said. “I think if we keep playing the same way, we have a great chance to win. It’s a far way to be over. We came back from 1-3 against Pittsburgh. We proved to ourselves that we can come back against some really good teams. I think we showed to ourselves that we can play with those guys.”

It doesn’t hurt that the Rangers get to host Games 3 and 4 at Madison Square Garden, where they aim to “hold serve” and tie the series.

“It’s going to be huge,” John Moore said. “It doesn’t get any bigger than this. We’re going to expect them to be loud and be behind us.”

Vigneault calls Monday’s Game 3 “as close [to] a ‘must’ game as I think you can have.”

The Rangers head coach seems to still be a little bitter about a controversial 4-3 goal in which there was no goalie interference call, but everyone - Henrik Lundqvist included - needs to let it go. Turning this series around at home would go a long way toward making that happen.

Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins