NHL: Atlanta 3, Buffalo 2 (OT)

ATLANTA, April 1 (UPI) -- Ilya Kovalchuk scored with 29 seconds left in overtime Wednesday, lifting Atlanta to a 3-2 victory over Buffalo.

The Sabres had a three-game winning streak snapped and suffered the loss of a badly -needed point in their chase for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Buffalo is 10th in the East, trailing No. 8 Montreal by five points with both teams having six games left. Prior to their three-game streak, the Sabres had lost six out of seven to significantly damage their playoff hopes.

Thomas Vanek scored both of Buffalo's goals, running his total for the season to 37. He produced a power-play goal with 6:04 to play in the second period that tied the game at 2-2.

Atlanta's goals came from Zach Bogosian and Slava Kozlov. Johan Hedberg made 30 saves to get the victory.