NEW YORK, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Ryan Malone ended a marathon shootout in the 11th round Thursday to keep the Tampa Bay Lightning's hot streak going with a 4-3 win over the New York Rangers.
Tampa Bay won for the fifth time in six games and its 20-10-5 record is the best in franchise history through 35 games.
After the teams played to a 2-2 tie through one period, Vincent Lecavalier gave the Lightning the lead by tipping in a shot with 5:18 to go in the second stanza. Derek Stepan tied it for the Rangers with 8:41 left in regulation.
Each side had two goals through the first three shootout rounds, but seven more rounds went by without a score before Malone put one past Henrik Lundqvist.
Dan Ellis made 34 saves in the victory. Lundqvist stopped 21 shots.
