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Stepan returns for Rangers in Game 5

Derek Stepan

In this May 22, 2014 photo, New York Rangers center Derek Stepan (21) leaves the ice with a member of the Rangers staff after taking a hit from Montreal Canadiens forward Brandon Prust during the first period of Game 3 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Eastern Conference finals in New York. Stepan has a broken jaw and is undergoing surgery. Rangers coach Alain Vigneault made the surprising announcement Friday, May 23, 2014, on the first of two off days in the series New York leads 2-1. Prust wasn’t penalized in the first period of Montreal’s 3-2 overtime win Thursday night, but he faces an NHL hearing Friday and a possible suspension. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

AP

Suffering a broken jaw sidelined New York Rangers center Derek Stepan for Game 4, but apparently he received clearance to play in Game 5. He’ll suit up for the Rangers as they attempt to eliminate the Canadiens in Montreal on Tuesday.

Much was made of the Brandon Prust hit that injured Stepan, with the former Rangers forward expressing regret about hurting his friend while Danny Briere professed more than a little bit of doubt about the validity of Stepan’s injury.

It was obviously enough to sideline Stepan for one big game, so does that just leave it half-fishy? Will the Canadiens try to target that jaw? Do people retract their mockery of Briere or is it just a wash? There are so many questions, yet we’ll have to wait for the answers.

If you’re wondering how the Rangers will line up with the 23-year-old forward back in the mix, here’s an early look:

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Consider how the past few days have gone for Stepan and it would be remarkable if he was his usual top-center self, although stranger things have happened in the playoffs:

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Follow James O’Brien @cyclelikesedins