Flyers dominate Rangers to force decisive Game 7

Derek Stepan and the Rangers will face the Flyers Wednesday night at 7 p.m.
Credit: Getty Images

Wayne Simmonds came to play. The Rangers did not.

The Flyers right wing scored early — 7:08 into the first period — and often — his first career postseason hat trick — as Philadelphia beat New York, 5-2, Tuesday to force a Game 7 Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

Simmonds scored the only marker of a first period in which the Rangers looked good despite trailing after 20 minutes.

It was a completely different story as New York became unraveled in the second period. Simmonds scored just 1:32 into the period. The Rangers, meanwhile, were unable to capitalize on back-to-back power plays. The latter came courtesy of Erik Gustafsson for high sticking Derek Dorsett. Gustafsson scored on a breakaway just five seconds after leaving the penalty box.

Dorsett lost his cool and took a penalty minutes later, setting up Simmonds to complete the hat trick.

Henrik Lundqvist made 19 saves in the first two periods before Cam Talbot took over to start the third.

Follow Metro New York Sports Editor Mark Osborne on Twitter @MetroNYSports.