New York Rangers defeat Pittsburgh Penguins, 3-1, to force Game 7 in Stanley Cup Playoffs

Of the hundreds of hockey games I’ve shot over the years, I can’t recall one more exciting than the one I witnessed last night at Madison Square Garden. The New York Rangers, climbing back from a 3-1 hole in their Stanley Cup second round playoff series vs. the Penguins, had won Game 5 in Pittsburgh and were playing Game 6 with their season on the line, trying to force a Game 7 back in Pittsburgh.

Martin St. Louis, for whom the Rangers traded captain Ryan Callahan two months ago, had a lot more than hockey on his mind this Mother’s Day game, having suddenly lost his mother to a heart attack three days earlier. With his father and sister watching in the stands, St. Louis scored the Rangers’ first goal minutes into the game, igniting his team and the fans. The building literally shook.

The Rangers have numbers on their side as they head into Game 7 tomorrow night. They’ve won their last four Game 7’s, had the best road record in their conference this season (25-14-2), and the Penguins have a dismal 2-6 record at home in Game 7’s. You can bet I’ll be watching. Will you?

Photos by Avi Gerver, ©Madison Square Garden, L.P.

Goals from Martin St. Louis…

Carl Hagelin (#62)…

and Derick Brassard…

were all that were needed for Henrik Lundqvist, who had a stellar game in goal for the Rangers, stopping 36 of 37 shots.

And the Rangers were relentlessly physical with Penguins star Sidney Crosby…

much to the delight of the crowd!