"A lost point here, another there. Over time, they add up, and not in a good way for a team desperate to stay in the playoff race.

The Lightning fell 4-3 in overtime to the Eastern Conference-leading Rangers on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden and got a point for the regulation tie.

But Tampa Bay (23-24-6) also left a point on the table and could not gain on the Panthers and Capitals, nine points ahead atop the Southeast Division.

"Every point is crucial, either gained or lost," center Dominic Moore said. "But that depends on how you look at it."

One way is the Lightning is 6-1-2 in its past nine games. The other is that since winning five straight, it is 1-1-2 and lost crucial points with two overtime losses.

Against the Rangers, it also lost a third-period lead. Brian Boyle scored with 9:47 left to tie the score, and Brad Richards won it 2:37 into the extra period.

That overcame goals by Steven Stamkos, his league-best 36th, Vinny Lecavalier and Bruno Gervais, who gave the Lightning a 3-2 lead on the power play with 7:34 left in second.

"We wanted to make sure we got the point," Stamkos said. "But sometimes one point isn't good enough in the position we're in."

There was drama beyond the Rangers' comeback. New York was upset with Moore's third-period shoulder hit to the head of Ruslan Fedotenko, who left the game. And wing Brandon Prust believes Lightning defenseman Victor Hedman slew-footed him in the first. But Moore's hit was the touchstone."