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NHL: Gomez strikes in overtime to lift Rangers past Sabres

The New York Rangers' Scott Gomez shoots and scores the game-winning shootout goal on Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller in Buffalo, New York, on Monday. PHOTO: AP

A shootout goal from Scott Gomez sparked the surging New York Rangers to a 3-2 road win over the Buffalo Sabres on Monday.

Gomez slid the puck under Buffalo netminder Ryan Miller's right pad to earn the Rangers their third win in a row.

"I don't know how good I am at the shootout, but I got a little lucky and got it by him," Gomez told reporters.

The victory gave New York a point for a 13th successive game, a run of 10 victories and three overtime losses. Their points streak is the longest since the Rangers' 14-game run during their 1993-1994 Stanley Cup season.

With the win, the fourth in a row over Buffalo this season, the Rangers gained a tie with Ottawa for fifth spot in the Eastern Conference standings on 83 points.

"We're not satisfied yet. We want to shoot as high as we can," Gomez said. "We want home ice in the playoffs, and that is our goal right now."

Both teams scored shootout goals before Gomez delivered his game-winner in the third round.

Buffalo's Thomas Vanek forced overtime with a powerplay goal in the third period.

Jason Pominville, who assisted on the play, scored the Sabres' other regulation goal with the game just 16 seconds old. He also collected Buffalo's shootout goal.

Fedor Tyutin and Jaromir Jagr claimed the Rangers' regulation goals with Brendan Shanahan joining Gomez on the scoresheet in the shootout.

Henrik Lundqvist stopped 19 shots, including three in overtime, for the win. Miller had 24 saves for Buffalo.

Flames 7, Blues 3

At Calgary, Alberta, Jarome Iginla became Calgary's career goal-scoring leader with this 365th in the Flames' victory.

The Flames' captain one-timed a pass from Kristian Huselius and had the puck go in off the backside of Blues defenseman Eric Brewer at 18:27 of the first period. Iginla's 41st goal of the season gave Calgary a 3-1 lead. He passed Theo Fleury on the team's all-time list.

Alex Tanguay had two goals and Kristian Huselius, Matthew Lombardi, Marcus Nilson and Daymond Langkow also scored for the Flames.

Brad Boyes scored twice and David Backes added one for St. Louis, which is 1-8-1 in its last 10 games.

Canucks 2, Kings 1, OT

At Los Angeles, the Canucks' Ryan Kesler scored the tying goal with 2:41 left in regulation and scored again on a tip-in 46 seconds into overtime, helping Vancouver avoid a four-game season sweep by the Kings.

The Kings, who have the worst record in the NHL, were outshot 37-18 in regulation. Cloutier stopped the first 33 shots he faced before Kesler got the equalizer. Patrick O'Sullivan scored the Kings' goal.
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