Might be a ways out there, but speculation in Montreal media than Stepan plays Sunday, that the broken jaw was made up in hopes of longer suspension.
Quote:
Stepan was examined by team doctors and X-rayed, the diagnostic showing no fracture, and he was cleared to return to action. He next appeared on the official scoresheet 6:10 later, at 8:58 elapsed time, then three seconds later delivered a thunderous end-boards bodycheck of Canadiens defenceman Alexei Emelin.
Stepan would play a total of 24 shifts for 17:46 in total ice time, 22 shifts and 16:52 of that time presumably played with a broken jaw. He was hit on his second shift of the game and played four more in the first period, nine in the second, eight more in the third and one in overtime, earning the second assist on Chris Kreider’s tying goal with 29 seconds left in regulation time.
Stepan took the opening faceoff of overtime...
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http://www.montrealgazette.com/touch...tml?rel=873605