Rangers in thin win over area rivals

Uniondale, New York: Defenceman Dan Girardi scored 3:11 into overtime to give the New York Rangers a stirring 1-0 victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday night in a game that felt every bit like a play-off match-up between the area rivals.

Henrik Lundqvist and Islanders counterpart Evgeni Nabokov staged a classic goalie duel that seemed destined to go to a shootout, but Girardi finished off a rush by flipping a shot over Nabokov’s shoulder for just his second goal of the season.

The Rangers are eighth in the Eastern Conference play-off race, one point behind the Islanders. The Rangers lead ninth-place Winnipeg by two points with seven games remaining - one more than the Jets. The Islanders have six games remaining, but only one more at home before they finish on a five-game trip they hope will end in their first play-off berth since 2007.

Lundqvist finished with 29 saves for his first shutout of the season. Nabokov stopped 19 shots.

The Rangers are 5-1-1 in their last seven. The Islanders, who had won their previous three, are 8-1-2 in their last 11.

Washington, meanwhile, blew a four-goal lead before Mike Green scored a power-play goal at 2:59 of overtime, extending the team’s winning streak to seven games.

Alex Ovechkin scored his 27th goal to move ahead in the NHL’s goal-scoring race, and the Capitals moved four points clear atop the Southeast Division, albeit after cruising way too much once they had a 5-1 lead early in the second period.

Green scored after Vincent Lecavalier was whistled for slashing Marcus Johansson, who was skating in on the crease for a clear look at a potential winning goal.

Ovechkin broke a tie with the Lightning’s Steven Stamkos to take the solo spot atop the goal leaderboard for the first time this season.

Troy Brouwer, Jack Hillen, Jason Chimera and Eric Fehr also scored, and Braden Holtby made 35 saves for the Capitals.

Richard Panik and Martin St. Louis each scored twice for the Lightning, and Teddy Purcell completed the comeback when he scored with 2:35 remaining in regulation.