Rangers Outlast Senators to Force Game 7

Brad Richards scored the go-ahead goal and Derek Stepan had a goal and two assists as the top-seeded New York Rangers staved off elimination with a 3-2 victory against Ottawa Senators on Monday night.

The series heads back to New York Thursday night for the first Game 7 in any sport at Madison Square Garden in 17 years.

Not even the return of Daniel Alfredsson in front of the fired-up home crowd at Scotiabank Place could help the eighth-seeded Senators complete the upset.

The Rangers broke through in the second with three goals after going six straight periods without scoring.

Chris Neil gave Ottawa a 1-0 lead in the first with a power-play goal and Jason Spezza cut it to 3-2 with 39 seconds left to play in the third.