Devils' Stevens breaks cheekbone, loses feeling
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- New Jersey Devils All-Star defenseman Scott Stevens has told a New Jersey newspaper that he suffered a fractured right cheekbone and nerve damage when he was struck in the face by a puck during Sunday's loss to the Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
Stevens told the Newark Star-Ledger that he will be seeing a specialist to determine when he can play again, the paper reported Thursday. Stevens had five stitches taken in his mouth but returned to finish the game.
"There's some bleeding from the nerve that was cut, and you have to get that to stop," Stevens told the Star-Ledger. "There's a chance I can play (Friday night against Buffalo), but I have to see a specialist again to determine when I can play.
"Right now, I have a nerve problem. I don't feel the teeth on one side of my mouth. They said it could be six months before the feeling returns. They say it'll take eight weeks for the fracture to fully heal."
Stevens said he will be wearing a face shield w