Rangers’ Stepan to return Saturday

New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) – New York Rangers center Derek Stepan is set to make his season debut on Saturday against Toronto after recovering from a fractured fibula.

Stepan was hurt during practice in late September. He suffered a non-displaced fracture and missed the team’s first 12 games of the season.

The 24-year-old Minnesota native was cleared for contact earlier this week.

In 82 games last season, Stepan scored 17 goals and set career highs with 40 assists and 57 points. He has compiled 73 goals with 124 assists for 197 points in 294 games.

Stepan had never missed a regular-season game in his first four years with the Rangers, but did miss one game in the Stanley Cup playoffs last season, sitting out Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Canadiens after he suffered a broken jaw on a hit by Montreal’s Brandon Prust.

Rangers defenseman Dan Boyle also skated with the team Friday and could return next week after recovering from a broken hand he suffered in the season opener against St. Louis.

Boyle, who signed as a free agent in July, was hurt while blocking a shot in the third period of the 3-2 Rangers win.

Categorized in: NHL