Flyers Force Game 7 – NHL Roundup

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Flyers have stretched their Stanley Cup first-round series to the limit and will take on the Rangers in New York on Wednesday night.

The Flyers forced a Game 7 by getting a hat trick from Wayne Simmonds in a 5-2 win over the Rangers. Simmonds completed his three-goal output with his second power-play tally to put Philadelphia ahead 4-0 late in the second period.

Steve Mason stopped 34 shots and blanked the Rangers until Carl Hagelin (HAG'-lihn) beat him with 6:34 remaining.

Erik Gustafsson and Claude Giroux (juh-ROO') also scored for the Flyers, who are 2-1 since Mason returned from an upper-body injury.

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — The Florida Panthers have parted ways with interim coach Peter Horachek, who replaced Kevin Dineen (duh-NEEN') as Panthers' coach on Nov. 8. The Panthers went 26-36-4 with Horachek in charge. Florida finished with the second-lowest point total in the NHL this season and missed the playoffs for the 12th time in 13 seasons.