New York Rangers Hold On To Beat Flyers In Game 7

Apr 30, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Philadelphia Flyers goalie Steve Mason (35) shakes hands with New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) after game seven of the first round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers defeated the Flyers 2-1 to advance to the next round of the playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Steve Mason did everything he possibly could to keep the Flyers in the game, but two picture perfect back-door goals from the New York Rangers gave them game 7 and a ticket to round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Philadelphia Flyers did wake up eventually in the third period, but it was too late as they could only get one past Henrik Lundqvist in the final frame and time ran out on their season.

Mason was the story through 40 minutes, as the Rangers carried the play, especially in the second period. The Rangers did get to him twice, first by former Flyer Daniel Carcillo who tapped in a great back-door feed from Mats Zuccarello 3:06 into the frame just after a Flyers power play failed to convert. Benoit Pouliot scored an almost identical goal 8 and a half minutes later, with the pass coming from Derick Brassard. Mason faced 28 shots through 2 periods, many of them quality scoring chances from the New York Rangers.

The Flyers came out hard in the third, with the turning point being a huge hit by Scott Hartnell on Pouliot. That turned the tide, and on the same shift Jason Akeson had his first shot blocked and then quickly put the second one behind Lundqvist to put the Flyers within one. Philadelphia pressed hard for the equalizer, but the New York Rangers defense and Lundqvist held strong and didn’t give another one up.