Rangers forward Stepan has surgery for broken jaw

Rangers forward Stepan has surgery for broken jaw

New York Rangers center Derek Stepan underwent surgery Friday for a broken jaw and his status is uncertain for the remainder of their National Hockey League playoff series against Montreal.

Derek Stepan of the New York Rangers lays on the ice after being checked by Brandon Prust of the Montreal Canadiens in during the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 22, 2014

Stepan suffered a broken jaw early in the first period of the Rangers' 3-2 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday in game three of the Eastern Conference finals.

The Rangers lead the series 2-1 with game four on Sunday in New York.

Stepan was without the puck when he was struck by Montreal's Brandon Prust, who did not receive a penalty on the play.

"Well, he can't do that, obviously, what he did there, but we'll let the league handle that," said Rangers coach Alain Vigneault.

Despite the broken jaw, Stepan remained in the game to the conclusion.

Stepan has scored three goals and set up eight others over 17 playoff games. He scored 17 goals in the regular season.

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