Rick Nash is struggling in the playoffs for the New York Rangers, with only three goals in 22 games. But his linemates aren't excelling either, and Derek Stepan says he and Chris Kreider have to up their game along with Nash if the Rangers have any chance of bouncing back from a 1-0 disadvantage against the Los Angeles Kings in the Stanely Cup Final. "As a line, I think we have a lot more to give, all three of us," Stepan said. "We all have strengths that we contribute. Chris skates and Nasher and I create space. It's not only Rick. Me and Kreids have to step up our games." Stepan has five goals in 20 playoff games and Kreider, four in 11.

Derek Stepan (broken jaw) can't eat solid food for at least another six weeks. Stepan suffered the injury on a hit from Brandon Prust in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final. He underwent surgery to have a plate inserted into his jaw and missed Game 4, returning for the next two. The Rangers center will continue to sport a facial protector on his helmet. "Vitamix is a lifesaver," Stepan said. "Let's see how creative I can get." Stepan also said he won't "hold it against" Prust for injuring him.

Derek Stepan got to speak with Brandon Prust during the handshake line on Thursday and the two of them hugged to put the incident behind them. Prust was suspended two games for a high and late hit on Stepan in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final. "I understand that Prustie's trying to get a hit in," Stepan said. "I know Pruster. I've played with Pruster and I know the kind of player he is. He plays hard and he plays a hard game and he's sorry. He felt bad." Stepan wasn't able to play in Game 4 because of a broken jaw. It was the first contest he's missed for the Rangers since entering the NHL in 2010-11.

Derek Stepan played with a broken jaw on Tuesday. Stepan only ended up missing one game due to the injury. He ended up logging 19:43 minutes and scored two goals, but his heroics were wasted on the Rangers as they still lost 7-4.

Derek Stepan (broken jaw) participated in Tuesday's practice. Stepan looked like he was ready to return to the lineup as he skated alongside Rick Nash and Chris Kreider, but nothing has been determined yet. "There's a lot of things that have to happen for him to play tonight," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. "We are going to talk to him this afternoon and see how he reacted to the practice. Nutrition, obviously, is an issue at this time. So later on today we'll talk to our doctors and talk to him and we'll see how it works out." Vigneault went on to emphasize that the team's medical staff will ultimately decide if Stepan is ready to return. Should he play, Stepan will presumably wear a full cage.

Derek Stepan (broken jaw) will travel with his teammates to Montreal ahead of Game 5 on Tuesday night. However, it's unclear if Stepan will be available to play. He missed Sunday's Game 4 victory over the Canadiens after he had surgery. The Rangers can close out the series with a win.

Derek Stepan (broken jaw) missed his first game in his NHL career on Sunday. Stepan had played in 348 straight games with 54 coming in the playoffs, before sitting out Game 4. There is currently no timetable for his return.

To little surprise, Derek Stepan won't be able to suit up for the New York Rangers against the Montreal Canadiens in Game 4 on Sunday. That broken jaw may just keep him out of the playoffs, although the Canadiens certainly seem skeptical about that. Stepan has been enjoying quite the run lately; he's in the middle of a five-game point streak (one goal, six assists). There's no doubt he'll be missed as the intensity of this series ratchets up.

Derek Stepan is unlikely to be available for Game 4 on Sunday. He's still at the hospital after he was scheduled for surgery on Friday night. Stepan sustained a broken jaw in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final on Thursday.

The New York Rangers hope Derek Stepan can play in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final series Sunday even though he has a broken jaw. Stepan had surgery Friday after taking a high blow from Montreal's Brandon Prust early in the first period in the Canadiens' 3-2 overtime win in Game 2 Thursday. Prust was suspended for two games because of the illegal hit, which wasn't caught by the referees. The Rangers badly want Stepan in their lineup. He's "wise beyond his years," forward Chris Kreider said. "He's the oldest young guy in the league. . .and just sees the ice so well, so easy to play with, so easy to communicate with. He's got a real good pulse [of] what's going on in the room and going on with guys."