Rangers defeat Lightning in OT

TAMPA, Fla. --J.T. Miller scored 1:19 into overtime to give the New York Rangers a 2-1 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on Thursday.
Miller skated around Lightning forwards Yanni Gourde and Brayden Point, cut across the top of the crease, and lifted a shot over goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Chris Kreider scored, and Henrik Lundqvist made 27 saves for the Rangers (5-7-2), who have won two straight games for the first time this season.
WATCH: [All Rangers vs. Lightning highlights]
"This was probably the most full game we played from start of the game to the end," Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh said. "This is definitely something that we can fall back on to when things aren't going our way. We have to look to continue to keep that effort when we play [the Florida Panthers on Saturday]."
Gourde scored for the Lightning (10-2-2), who lost their second straight game at home. Vasilevskiy, who made 33 saves, had won a Tampa Bay-record nine straight starts.
"[Vasilevskiy] clearly got us that point, no question about that," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "He's been doing that all year for us. That's why he's been our MVP."
The Rangers took a 1-0 lead at 18:34 of the first period when Kreider finished a 3-on-1 after New York forced a turnover in the neutral zone.
"We deserved to win, we played a real strong game from the start to the finish," Rangers coach Alain Vigneault said. "Our defensive game as a whole was solid. Our structure was good. We made a couple of nice plays with the puck."

Gourde tied the game 1-1 with a shorthanded goal at 11:00 of the second period. Point made a pass to Victor Hedman to start a 2-on-1 and Gourde's wrist shot went past Lundqvist on the stick side.
"I think we needed more shots on goal," Gourde said. "We were able to control our offense by shooting the puck, in some sequences we did that. But we were trying to be too fancy."
The Lightning had a goal from Alex Killorn disallowed because of goalie interference at 2:59 of the third period when it was determined that Gabriel Dumont made incidental contact with Lundqvist before the puck crossed the goal line.
"Well, I want to come out, I can't come out, I can't play the position, so I think it was absolutely the right call," Lundqvist said. "Sometimes I think players think they have to bump the goalie. But he comes in there, I can't come out, and they shoot. So I think it's the right call."
Cooper challenged the call, but it was upheld after a video review.
"You can tell by a goalie's reaction if he thinks it's goalie interference, [Lundqvist] didn't even react one ounce," Cooper said. "You're allowed to be in the blue paint. Forwards are allowed to go there. It did not impede his ability to make the save."

Goal of the game

Gourde's shorthanded goal at 11:00 of the second period.

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Save of the game

Lundqvist stopping Nikita Kucherov off a face-off at 7:47 of the second period.

Highlight of the game

Miller's game-winning goal at 1:19 of overtime.

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They said it

"Right now Tampa is the best team in the league with St. Louis. They were playing some solid hockey and scoring a lot of goals. This is just one game on the road against a real good team. We've got to move on, focus on the next game and get ready for it." -- Rangers coach Alain Vigneault
"Take the goaltender interference out of it. That would have given us two, they should have had six. The game probably ended up the way it probably should have ended up. We were way too loose. You can't play like that." -- Lightning coach Jon Cooper

Need to know

Vigneault earned his 619th NHL win, one behind Bryan Murray for 12th place on the NHL's all-time wins list. ...Defenseman Dan Girardi had a hit, a takeaway and a blocked shot in 16:59 of ice time against his the Rangers, who he played for the first time since signing with Tampa Bay in the offseason. Girardi spent 11 seasons with the Rangers from 2006-17. ... Lightning forward Steve Stamkos played in his 600th NHL game.

What's next

Rangers:At the Florida Panthers on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; FS-F, MSG, NHL.TV)
Lightning:Host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Saturday (7 p.m. ET; SUN, FS-O, NHL.TV)