The Buffalo Sabres trailed twice against the Philadelphia Flyers, but battled back each time and prevailed 3-2 in overtime to snap a two-game losing streak.  Tim Connolly capped his two-point night with the game winning goal two and a half minutes into overtime.

Newly acquired forward Raffi Torres got right into the action for the Sabres, getting bloodied on a scrum in front of the net in one of his first shifts with his new team.  The Sabres outshot the Flyers 15-10 in a high flying opening period of play.  Torres registered one shot in the first stanza.  Neither team was called for a penalty either. 

Simon Gagne's redirection at the top of the crease found its way into the net to give the Flyers a 1-0 early in the second period.  Lukas Krajicek and Kimmo Timonen assisted on Gagne's tenth goal of the season.  Thomas Vanek answered just over two minutes later to draw Buffalo even, 1-1, with the Flyers in the second.  Vanek simply threw the puck at the net from the half wall and banked the puck off of goaltender Michael Leighton for the score.  The goal also gave Vanek his 300th point for his career.  Tim Connolly registered his 42nd assist of the season on the goal.  Adam Mair was also given an assist on the equalizer. 

Mike Richards cut off a neutral zone pass and took advantage of a breakaway chance to give Philly a 2-1 lead more than halfway through the third period.  Richards used a backhand shot to beat Ryan Miller in the top corner of the net.  The goal was unassisted.  Mair answered moments later to tie the score 2-2 late in the third.  Mike Grier intercepted a pass behind the net, threw the puck to the front of the net and Mair chopped his shot home.  Grier assisted on Mair's tally.

Connolly buried his chance on the doorstep of the crease in OT to catapult the Sabres back into first place in the Northeast Division standings.  The forward took advantage of a rebound chance after a Toni Lydman shot from the slot.  Lydman and Torres assisted on the game winner.  Torres helped keep the puck in the offensive zone that led to the score.

Miller made 27 saves for his first win since the Olympic hiatus.  Leighton stopped 32 of 35 shots in the loss.  Each team combined for 0-for-3 on the power play in the game as well.

The Sabres get back at it Sunday night at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers.  The puck drops at 7 o'clock on the Sabres Radio Network, including the flagship WGR - Sports Radio 550 and wgr550.com.  Pregame coverage with Brian Koziol starts at six. 

Photo courtesy oh The AP.