History favors Rangers for Game 7 in Garden

By Ira Podell

Associated Press

Published: Tuesday, April 24 2012 4:05 p.m. MDT

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Ottawa Senators' Nick Foligno attempts to get the puck past New York Rangers' Henrik Lundqvist, as Senators' Chris Neil, second from left, holds off Rangers' Michael Del Zotto during the third period of Game 6 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoff hockey series, in Ottawa, Ontario, on Monday, April 23, 2012.

The Canadian Press, Sean Kilpatrick, Associated Press

Summary

Just as finishing with the Eastern Conference's best regular-season doesn't mean anything once the playoffs start, the New York Rangers are well aware that no one will remember their elimination-avoiding victory in Ottawa if they don't finish off the Senators at home in Game 7.

NEW YORK — Just as finishing with the Eastern Conference's best regular-season doesn't mean anything once the playoffs start, the New York Rangers are well aware that no one will remember their elimination-avoiding victory in Ottawa if they don't finish off the Senators at home in Game 7.

With a two-day break before the deciding game in the back-and-forth, first-round series, the top-seeded Rangers took the day off Tuesday after staying alive with a stirring 3-2 comeback victory on Monday.

The contentious matchup will be decided on Thursday night.

History has swung a bit back in the Rangers' favor. The Broadway Blueshirts are 3-0 in Game 7s played at home, including a pair in 1994 when they advanced to the finals with a double-overtime win over New Jersey, and the Stanley Cup clincher against Vancouver that ended 54 years of waiting for a championship.

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