The NHL playoffs series standings has the Flyers up over the NY Rangers after their win on Tuesday by the score of 5-2 and now the series is 3-3 heading into Wednesday with a Game 7 matchup on the schedule on the first round and now there will be three of those games, as the Wild and Avalanche along with the LA Kings and San Jose Sharks are playing a final matchup after Los Angeles was down 3-0.
The Flyers took a commanding 4-0 lead into the third period and that played into what has happened over the Rangers in recent years, as they have not been able to close out series well and now that played out again. The team had previously won their last game 6 matchup when up 3-2, but with the prospect of a Game 7 coming on back to back nights on Wednesday, the Flyers will have some momentum heading into the final matchup.
Wayne Simmonds was the star for the Flyers and he had three goals coming into the final period on just six shots and he was a real pest for the Rangers, while Derek Stepan had some good chances for the Rangers but couldn't find the net through the first two periods. The Flyers scored three goals in the second period after Simmonds had one in the first, with Erik Gustafsson scoring the goal between two from Simmonds and now the Rangers head back home for the Game 7 matchup and they will have to find a way to win.
Henrik Lundqvist was not at his best and the first goal of the game came on a deflection shot during a scrum in front of the net and that sent things downhill for the Rangers. New York opened the series with a win against the Flyers and they got a nice game from Brad Richards with a goal and two assists and he has been one of the best players for the Rangers in this series. The team lost in Game 2 after taking a 2-0 lead and then giving up four straight goals and they rebounded with another 4-1 victory in Game 3 and that saw Lundqvist play his best game of the series. The Flyers were without starting goalie Steve Mason at the beginning of the series and now he has returned and he was great in the 2-1 win for the Flyers in game 5 and that saw a goal from Dominic Moore for the Rangers.
Moore scored another goal and had an assist in the Game 5 victory at MSG and now Rick Nash, Martin St. Louis and Richards will have to step up for the matchup in Game 7. The schedule on Wednesday has the Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche playing in Game 7 and the Los Angeles Kings have come back from a 3-0 deficit against the San Jose Sharks and they are on the verge of collapse with Game 7 coming from SJ at 10 pm ET.
Check here for the NHL playoffs series standings and schedule for the first round.
