It is the second year in a row that the Rangers won back-to-back elimination games in the first round of the playoffs after trailing the series 3-2. Last spring they ousted the Ottawa Senators after winning Game Six on the road and Game Seven at Madison Square Garden. But this year the Rangers were forced to win Game Six at home and then the seventh game on the road, doing so for the first time in franchise history. They had been 0-5 in playoff Game Sevens on the road prior to winning Monday night. The Rangers are now 6-5 all-time in post-season Game Sevens.

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Facing playoff elimination Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers defeated the Washington Capitals 1-0 with a passionate, physical effort in a taught, tightly-played defensive contest. Henrik Lundqvist made 27 saves to record the seventh post-season shutout of his career, while the red-hot Derick Brassard scored the game’s only goal.

With this Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series tied 3-3, Game Seven will be played Monday night at at the Verizon Center at 8:00 PM. The home team has won all six games in this series, so far.

Thursday night, Brad Richards and the New York Rangers began their journey to the Stanley Cup against the Washington Capitals. The Rangers need a huge post-season from one of their assistant captains if they want to make a run at Lord Stanley. Richards is a guy who has the experience and heart to take the Rangers deep into the 2013 playoffs. In 2004, Richards won a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning along side current New York Rangers head coach John Tortorella. This experience could prove vital for the New York Rangers this May.

Richards has played some of his best hockey in this shortened season against the Washington Capitals. In three regular season games, Richards has 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points. In each game Richards had exactly 1 point. Brad and the Rangers were hoping that he would carry on that regular season success into the playoffs. The Rangers would have to rely on their older and more experienced players, such as Richards, Callahan, Nash, and of course Lundqvist to carry them throughout the playoffs. The Rangers have faced many injuriest throughout the season which they had to battle through, especially with the big loss of Marc Staal throughout most of the season. Brad Richards has to be one of the leaders and step up in crunch time.

The Rangers did not start out the playoffs the way they wanted to Thursday night against the Washington Capitals. At the Verizon Center, the Rangers jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead on a Carl Hagelin first period goal. The first period looked promising for the Rangers as they finished out the period with a 1-0 lead, shutting out the Captials star Alexander Ovechkin. Richards struggled to get shots to the net, having plenty of his shots blocked before getting to Braden Holtby. In the second period, the Rangers looked like a completely different team giving up 3 unanswered goals. Heading to the third period, the Rangers offensive still looked stagant. No goals were scoring in the period, the Rangers offensive seemed to have a little more energy, but still struggled to finish.

Brad Richards performance on Thursday night did not match how he has played the Washington Captials in the regular season. Richards did not record any points and finished the night -1 on the ice. As an assistant captain and a huge part of this New York Rangers team Richards has to be a game changer out there on the ice. This post-season experience can be a difference maker against unexperienced teams. Saturday afternoon, I expect a completely different Brad Richards in Washington, D.C. Richards should create more offensive opportunities and get his teammates involved throughout the whole game. Brad Richards has proven in the past that he has been a great post-season player, now it’s time to continue his success and try to lead the Rangers and get his second career Stanley Cup.

The season is winding down, your playoff chances are on the line each game. Time for someone to step up and that’s what Brad Richards has done.

After a rocky start into the late (short) season with no points in games against the Islanders and also Philly, playing nice wasn’t an option for Brad. Using the body and grit not only him but the team rallied to get the job done. Eliminating the Devils was not their focus.

The Rangers have won their last three and Brad being fired up offensively is a big reason for their success. After getting back into the groove, Richards put up a goal and an assist against Florida and to follow that up he also banked two assists in defeating the Devils and dashing the small window of hope they had for a playoff chance.

His first career hat trick came April, 19th and was something all Ranger fans wanted to see. For a guy that came into the league in 2001, it’s a sweet taste especially in the Big Apple. The win in itself was huge and gave the Rangers some more momentum going into the postseason. The playoff push has begun to take full hold and Richards staying consistent with this pace is just what the doctor ordered.

The Rangers are on a hot streak thanks to Richards and the team pulling together, and at the best possible time I might add. Our team scoring is up, our defensive cohesion is impressive, our goaltending is solid as usual and team spirits are high. Another key factor in this is that this re-energized Rangers team has the Garden faithful foaming at the mouth wanting more. Lets hope that the Rangers can continue this tempo and gritty play to ensure a long playoff run. When Richards plays well, the whole team plays well.

Richards scored twice as the New York Rangers had five goals in a span of less than 3 minutes and he then completed the hat trick in the third period in an 8-4 rout of the Buffalo Sabres on Friday night.

Richards has five points — four goals and an assist — in the last two games.

“I don’t even really want to talk about it,” Richards said. “I don’t want to jinx it. It’s just, if it’s back now, it’s a great time to have it. Let’s put it that way.”

Richards, who had 22 two-goal teams in his 11-year career, has 10 goals this season.

Richards scored the game’s second goal — on a shot off a Sabres defenseman — as the Rangers scored a franchise-record five goals in 178 seconds and improved to 23-17-4. New York remains in eighth place in the Eastern Conference with 50 points.

Carl Hagelin, Ryane Clowe, Anton Stralman, Rick Nash and Ryan Callahan also scored for New York.

Cody Hodgson, Nathan Gerbe, Drew Stafford and Mark Pysyk scored for Buffalo, which was eliminated from the postseason picture and had its three-game winning streak stopped.

The Rangers’ five goals in a span of 2:58 set a franchise record. The previous mark for fastest five goals was 3:22 in an 8-7 win over Edmonton on Feb. 15, 1985.

The scoring started with 1:18 remaining in the first period when Hagelin skated down the left side, circled behind the net and attempted to pass to Callahan in front. However, Hagelin’s pass went off the right skate of the Sabres’ Adam Pardy and into the net.

Then, 47 seconds later, Richards gathered a loose puck outside the right faceoff circle and fired the puck toward Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller. The shot deflected off the left skate of Buffalo’s Christian Ehrhoff and went between Miller’s legs for a 2-0 lead with 31 seconds remaining.

To see game highlights and to read the remainder of the article, click here.

On Friday, March 1st, the New York Rangers and the Garden of Dreams Foundation will be holding their annual Casino Night at Gotham Hall- located at 1356 Broadway on 36th Street in Manhattan.

This fundraising event is a chance for the fans to mingle with their favorite Rangers players, coaches, and even past-Rangers players as well. Included at the event are a buffet dinner, and silent/live auctions. Fans can also wager on some on some unique Rangers memorabilia online.

Attendees of Casino Night must be 21 years or older. A jacket is required for men, and for women, it is strictly cocktail attire. Fans going to the event are not allowed to bring their own items to be autographed, as all bags will be checked.

All net proceeds from this event will go to the Garden of Dreams Foundation, a public charity affiliated with MSG.

All VIP tickets are sold out, but $500 Individual Ace tickets are available- Call 877-MSG-GOAL for tickets.

Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Written By: Lauren Dellipoali

Brad Richard’s life involves hockey, but it certainly doesn’t revolve around hockey.

There is a difference.

The Rangers’ star has many off-the-ice interests, including charity work, wine, fashion and of course, his favorite football team, the Green Bay Packers.

If you happen to check out his Twitter or Instagram feed during a game, his football colors shine. Even though he is from Canada, he has spent most of his hockey career playing in cities with rabid football fan bases. Even so, Richards has always stayed loyal to his Packers, and he makes no attempt to hide his love for the Cheeseheads, even when they’re playing the hometown Giants.

“Tough night for me. Packers vs. Giants. Sorry NY fans but Packers will always be #1.”

Another aspect of Richards’ off the ice endeavors is his love for fashion. Rangers’ fans may remember Sean Avery’s similar interest in fashion, but Brads’ comes in a slightly more domesticated package. During the lockout, Richards signed a two-year endorsement deal with UNTUCKit, a U.S. menswear line. The Rangers are one of the most fashionable teams in the league, having been featured in Esquire, along with many players in attendance for Fashion Week. While it may be a bit of a long shot, Richards may have a shot at ousting fellow teammate Henrik Lundqvist as the “Most Stylish Athlete” at the 2012 New York Style Awards.

Richards’ charity work, which he likes to keep quiet, came to the forefront during the lockout when he spent hours upon hours contributing to the Hurricane Sandy relief effort. He helped organize many charity events, including an event in Atlantic City, which raised over $500,000. What some fans may not know is that Richard’s also has his own foundation, which raises money for children with Cancer and other serious illnesses.

When you consider all of Richards’ varying interests – from fashion, to charity, to the Packers – it may not seem surprising to discover that Brad is also a lover of wine. He has hosted several wine-tasting events to raise money for another one of his charities, Wines of the World. Brad has been known to offer his commentary of fine wines from around the world, and has a vast wine collection of his own, which he keeps at Bern’s Steak House in Tampa Bay, FL.

What you see on the ice is only a small fraction of Brad Richards. He may be a star player on one of the NHL’s largest franchises, but off the ice, he is a well-rounded athlete who enjoys a lot more than just playing hockey.

By: Michelle Timian

Photo Credit: @michelle_timian on Instagram

In late May of last year, I had the opportunity to travel to New York City for the first time.  All my excitement for this chance trip stemmed from the opportunity to see my favorite Rangers play on their home ice, rather than taking in the world-famous city.  In my head, I could picture streamers flying through the air, feel the energy of the crowd, hear the goal song that I could finally sing along to after a dramatic victory hosted by the Garden…

The day before I arrived, the Devils knocked the Blueshirts out of the playoffs.

Crushed at the loss of Game 7, I visited Madison Square Garden anyways, hoping to perhaps stop by the team store (closed) or take a peek at the ice (denied).  But what I did see during my trek around the Garden was one of the MSG pillars, still decorated for the playoffs, with a larger than life image of Brad Richards, the picture of determination, strength and confidence.

In that expression, I saw someone who had trudged through two Game 7′s before finally hoisting the Stanley Cup for the Tampa Bay Lighting in 2004.  His two goals against the Flyers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, and his goal against the Flames in Game 2, were three of the seven goals that now hold the NHL record for most game-winning goals in a post-season.

Such actions awarded him the Conn Smythe trophy as the playoffs’ MVP.  But more than scoring clutch goals or receiving recognition for his role on the Bolts, Richards gained the all-important Stanley Cup Finals experience that is so indispensable to winning the Cup (see also, L.A. Kings roster, 2012).

That pillar reminded me how Richards chose to play for the Rangers, to decline the more appealing offers from other teams clamoring for his skills, and how he has quickly established his leadership both on and off the ice.  What I saw on that day at the Garden gave me the foresight to see what we believe to be true about this Rangers team: They are only small steps away from the ultimate prize.

Just like the pillar I saw holding up Madison Square Garden, Richards too is a pillar of strength for the Rangers.  He carries with him the dedication to win, the rare ability to be a selfless leader, and the fearlessness to score the big goals when they count the most.

I may have missed Game 7 of 2012, but it will not be missed for long.

There will be more Game 7′s in the Rangers’ future, but next time, the Cup will be waiting at the end of a long, hard road.

The McDonagh ‘Beginnings’ episode premieres Thursday night, following postgame coverage of the Rangers-Islanders game on MSG.

Courtesy of: blueshirtsunited.com