New York Rangers Vs. Ottawa Senators, NHL Playoffs 2012: Complete Series Coverage

A Rangers win on the brink of elimination in Game 6 ensured that the Stanley Cup Playoffs would return to Madison Square Garden. But the Rangers have to do it again in a winner-take-all Game 7 tonight to avoid being the second No. 1 team to fall in the first round despite winning their conference.

Here’s how to watch tonight’s decisive matchup:

When the lights went out for perhaps the last time this season at Scotiabank Place and the media filed their stories for the night, what remained was not merely the analysis of yet another close game but also enough bitter story lines to satisfy any audience.

These combatants will carry into Game 7 a variety of issues and insecurities, from vengeful enforcers to damaged stars to questions about officiating, of course. To review:

We’ll have more on Game 6 of Senators-Rangers in this StoryStream. For more on the Sens, head over to Ottawa Senators blog Silver Seven. You can find more on the Blueshirts over at New York Rangers blog Blueshirt Banter.

In a previous life, Rangers coach John Tortorella rode the mantra “Safe Is Death” to a Stanley Cup championship with an offensive team in a low-scoring era. That was before the lockout and new rule enforcement designed to open up the game.

These days, “safe” is the way for Torotorella, but it’s not without risk.

There was little Lundqvist could do on the shot, which whooshed past his glove and into the high right side of the net, but the swift zoom on the dejected King Henrik makes the GIF absolutely perfect for incorporation into your daily life.

Game time/date: 7:30 p.m. ET, Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Location: Scotiabank Place, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Wednesday night could end two 2012 NHL playoffs series. And both would have to end in upsets and sweeps by the lower seed.

No. 4 Pittsburgh Penguins at No. 5 Philadelphia Flyers

7:30 p.m. ET -- Game 4, Eastern Conference Quarterfinals | Flyers lead, 3-0

National TV: NBC Sports, TSN, RDS2 | Local TV: ROOT, CSN Philadelphia

This is how NHL playoff series work at their best, their most dramatic, their most maddening.

Yes, that Brian Boyle.

“It is important to note that Alfredsson suffered an injury on this play,” Shanahan said. That’s been the standard to which they’ve decided suspensions in these playoffs, and it’s likely why Hagelin will miss time. Alfredsson’s status is unknown for Game 3 at Scotiabank Place on Monday.

Hagelin’s a vital player for the Rangers, and his absence from the lineup wil no doubt hurt their chances now that the series moves to Ottawa tied at a game apiece. Of course, you won’t hear much remorse from Senators fans, who lost their captain as a result of this hit. New York could opt to put rookie Chris Kreider in the lineup for his NHL debut to replace Hagelin.

Stick with SBNation.com for full Rangers vs. Senators series coverage. For more on the Rangers, check out Blueshirt Banter. For updates on the Senators, visit Silver Seven.

You didn’t think hockey was anything like pinball, did you? You thought wrong. MULTIBALL mode, everyone’s favorite novelty, is real, and it happened during a hockey game.

That all led to a hilarious situation where the action was happening in two places at once. And the refs still couldn’t figure it out -- at least not for a while.

Just 2:15 into the game, Carkner made a bee line across the ice to Boyle. He delivered a check, the two exchanged a few words, and then Carkner dropped his glove and sucker-punched Boyle in the face. A melee ensued, and there were casualties.

Carkner, meanwhile, was given two minutes for roughing, a five-minute major for fighting and a game misconduct, likely for sucker punching a guy in the face.

The No. 1 seeded New York Rangers were never really threatened by the Ottawa Senators in the first game of their first round series Thursday, although the 4-2 final score made the game look somewhat close. The Rangers were up 4-0 in the third period before surrendering two more-or-less meaningless goals - although the two unanswered scores should give hope to Sens fans.

The 8-over-1 upset isn’t impossible - hey, the Kings are doing it! - but if Ottawa wants to pull it off, they’ll need to start with a road win in Game 2. Judging from the Rangers’ early play, however, that will be tough.

Aside from the scoreboard and control of the action, Game 1 could not have been more even on the stat sheet. The Senators out-shot the Rangers 32-to-31, hits were even at 37 apiece and Ottawa held a 35-to-32 edge in the face-off circle.

Game 2 of the series is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Saturday.

Kreider signed a three-year, entry-level deal with the club. By simply showing up to practice with the club, Kreider will burn a year of that entry-level contract, bringing him one year closer to free agency. According to Larry Brooks of the New York Post, Kreider’s deal hits the salary cap at an average annual value of $1.3 million.

Kreider is fresh off a national championship with the Boston College Eagles and was arguably the top prospect in the college ranks this season. By signing with New York, he’s giving up his eligibility for his senior season with Boston College.

OFFENSE

Edge: Senators, thanks to Karlsson’s single-handed breakouts.