MONTREAL — Before anyone questions Derek Stepan’s toughness, they should remember the last time these two teams faced each other in the playoffs.
In Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final three years ago, former Ranger Brandon Prust leveled Stepan with a high, late hit near the blue line at 2:55 of the first period.
In pain from what turned out to be a broken jaw — initial x-rays were negative — Stepan returned to the game, which the Canadiens won, 3-2 in overtime at Madison Square Garden. “It doesn’t matter who it was, it was a bad hit,” Stepan said, “it may have been his shoulder, but he made contact with my face.