Derek Roy scored a flukey goal 15 seconds into overtime as the Buffalo Sabres rallied from a two-goal deficit in the third period and beat the Atlanta Thrashers 4-3 on Wednesday night, a game marred by numerous fights.
The Sabres scored twice in the final 7:37 and moved within four points of the New York Islanders in the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
"The last game against Toronto, we had three fluke goals scored on us -- off skates, off sticks, off the goalie's pads," Roy said. "We just got some good luck today because we worked really hard all game. I think we deserved it."
In overtime, Roy skated into the Atlanta zone and fired a shot from the top of the circle. It caught goalie Pasi Nurminen in the chest, fell at his feet and rolled into the net before he could knock it away with his stick.
J.P. Dumont, Adam Mair and Jochen Hecht also scored for Buffalo. Andy Sutton tied a career high with two goals for Atlanta, and Ilya Kovalchuk scored his 38th goal of the season.
Panthers 6, Islanders 4
In Sunrise, Florida, Roberto Luongo stopped 50 shots, including 26 in the first period, and Florida rallied to beat New York.
Nathan Horton, Olli Jokinen, Matt Cullen, Stephen Weiss, Mikael Samuelsson and Donald Audette scored for Florida, which was outshot 54-24 and trailed 2-0.
Adrian Aucoin, Trent Hunter, Michael Peca and Mark Parrish scored for New York. The Islanders tied a franchise record with their 28 first-period shots.
Devils 6, Penguins 1
In East Rutherford, New Jersey, Jeff Friesen had two goals and two assists to help New Jersey snap Pittsburgh's six-game unbeaten streak.
Scott Clemmensen, making his third career start with Martin Brodeur getting a break after starting 13 straight games, made 14 saves for his second victory -- both against Pittsburgh.
Viktor Kozlov also had a four-point game with a goal and three assists, and Scott Niedermayer, John Madden and Paul Martin added goals for the Devils. Matt Hussey scored for the Penguins.
Blues 1, Mighty Ducks 1
In Anaheim, California, Martin Skoula scored with 4 1/2 minutes remaining in the third period and Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 30 saves, five in overtime, in St. Louis' draw with Anaheim.
Ryan Johnson ended a 26-game goal drought for the Blues, who took sole possession of seventh place in the Western Conference. Reinhard Divis made 28 saves before Skoula deprived him of his first NHL shutout.
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