BOSTON — Derek Stepan was crumpled on the ice in pain with what later was diagnosed as broken ribs, after taking a late hit from Matt Beleskey that sent the Rangers center into the wall from a couple of feet away 8:06 into the second period on Friday afternoon.
From a few feet away, Dylan McIlrath had no doubt an immediate response was required. And he was correct, even if he picked up a two-minute instigator penalty (plus two for fighting and a corresponding 10-minute misconduct) for pummeling the Bruins’ winger.