Alex Killorn ends shootout debate, Lightning win 2-1

Mark Diddler, The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. —Alex Killorn ended the debate in the sixth round of the shootout and the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the New York Rangers 2-1 on Thursday night.

Brayden Point scored in regulation time and in the shootout for the Lightning, which saw Andrei Vasilevskiy shine with 45 saves.

Mika Zibanejad moved the ropes in regulation time for Rangers. Igor Shesterkin, who is 4-0-1 in five games against the Lightning, stopped 39 shots.

Rangers forward Alexis Lafrenière, selected first overall in the 2020 draft, was left out by head coach Gerard Gallant.

« Well, I pick the lineup and I’ve talked about consistency before and yesterday, » Gallant said. He wants to be better and we want him to be better and more consistent in his game.

Lafrenière hasn’t scored in his last eight games.

Point tied the game in the third period with his 20th goal of the season. The center player has scored 14 goals in his last 15 games.

Zibanejad opened the scoring at 14:25 of the first period, beating Vasilevskiy with his ninth goal in as many games.

The Lightning goalkeeper made some great saves in overtime, while his team passed a penalty to Victor Hedman. On the other end, Shesterkin closed the door on Steven Stamkos.