Game 4 is a must-win for the New York Rangers

So is Game 4 of the New York Rangers’ series against the Washington Capitals a must-win for the Blueshirts?

“I look at it like every game in the playoffs is a must-win,” center Derick Brassard said.

Well that’s boring.

“You could say that our backs are against the wall here,” he said, “but we’ve responded whenever we’ve been in that position, so I think it’s just staying in a good frame of mind and going on the ice and trusting our abilities and our team.”

OK, so the Rangers will never say Wednesday night’s game is a must-win; and frankly, with two more games at MSG and an undeniable propensity for these teams to play seven-game series, it’s logically not a must-win either.

But doesn’t it feel that way? Despite how tight these games have been, how slim the margins of victory are, doesn’t it feel like the Rangers need to get to Braden Holtby, flash some offense from their top line players and turn this thing into a best-of-three rather than a lose-and-go-home?

Their coach would sure like to see something from the top line.

“This is a results-oriented business,” Alain Vigneault said. “You can play real well and do the right things with and without the puck at both ends and through the neutral zone. But, at the end of the day, you expect Marty St. Louis to find the back of the net. You expect Rick Nash to find the back of the net. You expect Derick Brassard to help those two guys and himself find the back of the net.”

St. Louis has one assist in three games against the Capitals and two assists in eight games overall. Nash has one assist in three games vs. Washington, has a goal and four assists for the playoffs but hasn’t scored a goal since late in Game 2 vs. Pittsburgh.

“You have to fight a little bit more in the paint,” said St. Louis. “It’s really hard to get our shots through.”

But they must get more pressure in and around Braden Holtby. They must get some production from their top players.

They must win Game 4 in Washington.

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