Tim Connolly got mad. He didn't get even, though. He did something better.

He got ahead.

Connolly shook off an egregious error Friday night, allowing the Buffalo Sabres to shake

their losing streak. The center scored with 2:29 left in overtime, giving the Sabres a 3-2

victory over the visiting Philadelphia Flyers. The goal completed Buffalo's rally from a late 2-1

deficit that Connolly created.

The slumping Sabres have been finding various ways to lose, so they appeared to be in big

trouble with 8:51 left in regulation when the Flyers took advantage of Connolly's major

gaffe.

The center got the puck at his own blue line and tried a cross-ice pass for Adam Mair. The

Flyers' Mike Richards read the telegraph first and intercepted. Philly's captain skated in

alone on goaltender Ryan Miller, faked a shot then scored on a backhand to snap a 1-1 tie.

"I should know better than that," Connolly said. "I should have just held it, got my feet

moving and go up the boards with it. I try not to make those mistakes too often, and it was a

bad mistake on my part."

The sellout crowd of 18,690 in HSBC Arena was still groaning when Mair answered.

Buffalo right wing Mike Grier trailed a puck behind the Philadelphia goal and blindly

passed to the front. The puck caromed off a Flyers player onto the stick of Mair. The forward

sent a backhand just inside the post, giving the Sabres hope with 5:58 to go.

Connolly recovered in the extra session. Philadelphia goalie Michael Leighton stopped Toni

Lydman's slap shot, and Connolly knocked home the rebound. He was mobbed by teammates thrilled

to end a two-game losing streak and improve to 2-6-2 in the last 10 games.

"I was quite mad at myself right after the [giveaway]," Connolly said. "Once we got it back

into overtime, I just wanted to give myself a chance to go and try and get one. We did a great

job of getting it on net, and I just went in front and got one of those dirty goals.

"I'm just happy we're able to come back and get two points."

It was fitting Connolly scored the winner, but just as appropriate was Mair tying the game.

His effort helped the Sabres overcome the loss of two forwards.

Center Tim Kennedy fell ill prior to the game and was limited to just nine shifts. Right

wing Drew Stafford played only one period after suffering a groin injury (he is expected to

miss time but will be re-evaluated today).

"We were down to three lines," coach Lindy Ruff said. "It looked like Adam was going pretty

well. It's great to see a guy like that get on the score sheet. A lot of nights it's the dirty

work he's got to do, but to get a big goal for us like that was important for our team."

The victory moved the Sabres back into first place in the Northeast Division. They are one

point ahead of Ottawa with two fewer games played. The Sabres will practice today then fly to

New York for Sunday's meeting with the Rangers in Madison Square Garden.

"This time of the year, 20 games left, you need all the points you can," Mair said. "We're

working hard to get back to the top of the division and back to the top of the

conference.

"When you're in a bit of a lull, it seems like it's harder to crawl out and get those wins.

Bounces seem to go against you. We were able to find a way tonight being down, 2-1, in the

third, and that's a big turnaround for us."

The biggest turnaround, however, belonged to Connolly.

"That just shows the kind of player he is," Mair said. "A lot of guys would have hung their

head and kind of been done for the game, and he rebounded and played great and really got the

win for us."