Sunday was a huge day in the NHL playoffs, with two teams trying to avoid elimination and our first Game 7 of 2013. In the day's first game, the New York Rangers scored the only goal in a brutally physical contest to force a Game 7 with the Washington Capitals. Later in the evening, the Toronto Maple Leafs benefited from 59 minutes of shutout goaltending from James Reimer to beat the Bruins 2-1 and send the series to a final game Monday night. And in the night's final showdown, the Red Wings handed the Ducks a frustrating defeat in Anaheim to win Game 7 and the series.
2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs nightly GIF recap: Elimination avoided, except for Ducks
The Rangers and Maple Leafs avoided elimination on Sunday while the Red Wings completed their upset of the Ducks.
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Let’s go to the GIFs!
In New York, the Rangers rode Henrik Lundqvist again to their third home win of the series, forcing Game 7. Braden Holtby almost matched him save for save, but he couldn't stop a deflection by his own defenseman, Steven Oleksy.
There was only one goal in the game, but plenty of big hits and violence. Michael Del Zotto leveled Mathieu Perreault with such a thundering hit that the referees stopped play, interrupting a Rangers odd-man rush.
It looks like a shoulder to Perreault's throat and collarbone, so he was winded and helped off. But he kept playing because this is hockey.
Things ramped up in the third period, including an all-hands-on-deck fracas at the final buzzer. That followed a period of increasingly violent hits, like this one by Alex Ovechkin on Dan Girardi:
Mike Green put a vicious hit on Derek Dorsett, which Green finished off with a crosscheck to the face:
Dorsett kept his teeth, at least.
Things also got rough in Toronto. Dougie Hamilton might think twice next time he's tempted to sneak around Ryan O'Byrne.
Also in Toronto, fans disguised themselves rather than have Mom see them skipping out on Mother’s Day.
Both goalies were strong throughout the game, but the Leafs would manage to score two third-period goals on Tuukka Rask, including this game-winner from Phil Kessel:
And the fans went nuts in Toronto:
Game 7 between the Anaheim Ducks and the Detroit Red Wings started off with a quick goal from Henrik Zetterberg:
And the Wings never looked back. They never once trailed in the contest, and Jimmy Howard stood tall all night despite this brutal interference he suffered at the hands of Teemu Selanne:
Poor, poor Jimmy Howard.
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