NHL

Stepan, still ‘shaking,’ will dress for Game 1

The Rangers first-line center is entering the Stanley Cup finals still unable to eat solid foods.

Derek Stepan will dress for Game 1 against the Kings on Wednesday night at the Staples Center just over a week removed from having surgery to put a plate in his jaw. He is forced to get all his nutrition through protein shakes, and doesn’t think fatigue or anything like that will be an issue.

“No, I’m all right,” he said after Monday’s practice in Westchester.

The timetable for Stepan to be forced to eat like this is six weeks after the surgery, which he underwent on May 23.

The 23-year-old pivot was injured on a late hit from former teammate Brandon Prust in Game 3 of the East finals against the Canadiens, and although he returned to that game, he missed Game 4 of that series. He returned for Games 5 and 6 to play with a large plastic brace around his lower face, which likely will stay on for the duration of the Stanley Cup finals.

Stepan will turn 24 on June 18, the planned date for a possible Game 7, and is set to get married in early August.


For the second straight series, the Rangers do not have home-ice advantage — and coach Alain Vigneault doesn’t think that really matters.

“To make it this far, you have to be able to play well at home and really well on the road,” he said. “I think both teams have shown that.”

The Rangers finished the regular season with 96 points, good for second in the Metropolitan division. The Kings secured home-ice in the Cup finals by finishing with 100 points, good for third in the Pacific. They have not had home-ice yet in this postseason, having won three Game 7s, all on the road.
“Well if you ask L.A.,” Vigneault said, “they won three Game 7s in the other team’s building, so … ”


Backup goalie Cam Talbot didn’t practice for the second straight day, still dealing with an undisclosed injury.

“Still day-to-day,” Vigneault said. “We’ll know more in the next couple days.”

Talbot was set to travel to Los Angeles, as was third-stringer David LeNeveu, who has practiced in Talbot’s place.


Forward J.T. Miller skated before the practice on Monday, and despite his supposed right-shoulder injury, he will travel with the team.

“I’d say he’s going to practice [Tuesday],” Vigneault said of Miller, who, of course, is “day-to-day.”