Brad Richards, center, celebrates his game-winning goal in Game 7.
Credit: Getty Images
The Rangers rallied for their first-ever comeback from a 3-1 deficit and will be going to their second Eastern Conference finals in three years as a result.
New York got on the board first and held on to a one-goal lead in the final minutes to beat Pittsburgh, 2-1, Tuesday night in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Brian Boyle got the game started on a positive note for New York with a goal just 5:05 into the game.
Jussi Jokinen, who has bedeviled the Rangers all series, evened things up at 1-1 4:15 into the second. But the Blueshirts finally broke through on the power play minutes later.
Martin St. Louis dug out a puck behind the net and fed it to a rushing Brad Richards, who finished in front of the net to give New York a 2-1 lead at 7:56 in the second.
It was Richards’ first goal of the series and just his second point after posting a team-leading seven points against the Flyers.
The Rangers won three straight after the sudden death of St. Louis’ mother last week.
“It been a tough couple days,” Henrik Lundqvist told NBC postgame. “There’s so many emotions right now. … We handled it the right way and we’re moving on to the next round.”
They will face the winner of the Bruins and Canadiens — who play in a Game 7 Wednesday night in Boston — in the Eastern Conference finals.
Follow Metro New York Sports Editor Mark Osborne on Twitter @MetroNYSports.
