Rangers hold off Sens in Game 7; Devils top Panthers in 2OT

Frontal shot: New York's Dan Girardi scores past Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson in the second period of Game 7 on Thursday night. The Rangers won 2-1 and took the series 4-3. AP

NEW YORK — The New York Rangers are likely more relieved than ecstatic now that they have outlasted the pesky Ottawa Senators.

It wasn't easy, and after a home loss in Game 5, it almost wasn't likely. But the Eastern Conference's top-seeded team gutted out a big road win and then made it count Thursday night when the Rangers held off the Senators 2-1 in Game 7 to advance to the second round.

"You don't want to relax too much" said forward Derek Stepan, who had three points in the Rangers' Game 6 win and then helped set up the opening goal in the clincher. "We have a big round ahead of us and we have to make sure we stay focused and keep that emotion high."

Defensemen Marc Staal and Dan Girardi scored 4:18 apart in the second period, Henrik Lundqvist made 26 saves and the Rangers eliminated the eighth-seeded Senators — completing a rally from a 3-2 hole after losing Game 5.

"We were talking about it in Ottawa that if we could bring it back here, the fans would be behind us," Girardi said. "The way we play all year got us ready for games like this. We came with a great effort (in Ottawa) and another one tonight."

Staal broke the scoreless deadlock, and Girardi gave New York a 2-0 lead with his first career NHL playoff goal. Lundqvist allowed Daniel Alfredsson's power-play goal in the second but stood tall the rest of the way to send the Rangers into a second-round matchup with the seventh-seeded Washington Capitals.

New York hadn't hosted a Game 7 since their Stanley Cup victory over Vancouver in 1994, but it stayed perfect at home in deciding games — winning its fourth. The Rangers are 4-5 overall in Game 7, and the Senators dropped to 0-5.

"We knew they were going to come out strong," said Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson, who made 27 saves. "I just wanted to make sure that I gave my team an opportunity to win the hockey game — make the next save for the guys

"They had their fans. They had lots of energy."

Lundqvist withstood tons of pressure from the Senators, who spent most of the closing 5 minutes in New York's end. The win wasn't secure until Sergei Gonchar tripped Carl Hagelin as he skated toward the empty net with 36.2 seconds remaining.

SUNRISE, Florida — Adam Henrique scored his second goal of the game at 3:47 of the second overtime, and the New Jersey Devils beat the Florida Panthers 3-2 in Game 7 early Friday to advance to second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

The Devils wasted a 2-0 lead in the third period, then recovered and earned a matchup with Philadelphia in the East semifinals. Stephen Gionta also scored in regulation for New Jersey, which won a series for the first time since 2007.

Martin Brodeur made 43 saves for the Devils in a game that ended on April 27 — the 20th anniversary of Brodeur's first playoff appearance for New Jersey.

Stephen Weiss and Marcel Goc scored third-period goals for the Panthers, and Jose Theodore made 32 saves. Florida made a surprising run to the Southeast Division title this season, earning their first postseason berth in 12 years.

Henrique picked up a loose puck in the right circle, skated toward the slot and beat Jose Theodore with a low shot. The Devils mobbed Henrique, as Theodore knelt on the ice in disbelief.

An hour earlier, all the momentum was going the other way. Down 2-0 entering the third period, Florida had no choice but to attack.

View the original article here