The Garden crowd roared to life nearly every time Brandon Prust touched the puck on Thursday, loudly booing the Canadiens forward who broke Derek Stepan’s jaw with a late hit in Game 3 that resulted in a two-game ban.
Stepan, though, said he had no issues with his former teammate following the Rangers’ 1-0 win over Montreal in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final to move on for a chance to play for the Stanley Cup. The two even embraced during the customary post-series handshake line.
“I understand Prust was trying to get a hit in,” Stepan said of the fateful play. “And I know Prust, I’ve played with Prust. I know what kind of player he is. He plays a hard game. He’s sorry, he felt bad, but that’s the way it is and we move on.”
Perhaps it was easier for Stepan to be so forgiving with the Rangers moving on to their first finals since 1994 — an achievement he managed to be a significant part of despite the injury and resulting surgery.
“It’s been a lot like any other series,” Stepan said. “With the exception of the surgery.”
Stepan chuckled as he said it, knowing that even for hockey, his ability to get back on the ice was impressive.
He’s still unable to eat solid food and will not be able to for six weeks. Despite that, he insisted he hasn’t been affected, relying on smoothies.
“Vitamix is a lifesaver,” Stepan said. “Let’s see how creative I can get.”
The Rangers got creative with the mask the team created to protect Stepan’s jaw and he insisted the injury wasn’t “too bad.”
Maybe that’s why, despite hearing the sellout crowd go after Prust throughout his first game back from his suspension, Stepan adamantly refused to criticize the gritty former Garden favorite, who repeatedly heard chants of “Prust you [stink]” on Thursday.
Prust later reached out to Stepan to apologize, after he learned of the fracture.
“I’m not going to hold it against him,” Stepan said.
Stepan and the Rangers will move on to either the Kings or Blackhawks in the finals.
Their unexpected run already has brought them further than many anticipated when the playoffs began, but Stepan said they aren’t satisfied.
“We haven’t really done much yet,” Stepan said.