LOS ANGELES (AP) – Derek Stepan politely declines credit for saving the New York Rangers’ season with his heady defensive play.
He’s just glad he prevented a possible sweep in the Stanley Cup finals by sweeping the puck off the goal line in the waning moments of Game 4.
Stepan pushed the motionless puck underneath goalie Henrik Lundqvist, preventing the Los Angeles Kings from equalizing and likely forcing overtime.
Making the play solely on instinct, Stepan knows he was lucky not to knock the puck into his own net, or right onto the stick of a Los Angeles player. He also figures the Rangers were due for some luck in this series.
Stepan and the Rangers returned to Staples Center knowing they’ll need more smart defensive play in Game 5 on Friday.
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