Atlanta, GA (My Sportsbook) - Ilya Kovalchuk scored the game-winner with 29.9 seconds left in overtime and added an assist in regulation as the Atlanta Thrashers edged the Buffalo Sabres, 3-2, at Philips Arena.

With time running down in the extra period, Thomas Vanek's shot was blocked by Kovalchuk and the Thrashers star caught up to the puck and was able to beat Ryan Miller between the five-hole to give Atlanta the win.

"It was just a lucky bounce," Kovalchuk said. "He (Vanek) tried to throw it right to the net and it hit my skate. I got a breakaway and that's the safest play on the bad ice is to shoot five-hole."

Zach Bogosian and Slava Kozlov also tallied for Atlanta, which was coming off a 6-3 win over Ottawa on Saturday. The Thrashers have won three straight and four of their last five overall.

Johan Hedberg turned aside 30-of-32 shots for the Thrashers, who swept the four game series with the Sabres this year.

Atlanta starting netminder Kari Lehtonen missed the contest with an upper body injury and is scheduled to be re-examined in the next day or two.

Vanek had a pair of power-play goals for the Sabres, who were trying to build off a 4-3 shootout win at Montreal on Saturday. Buffalo, which had its three- game winning streak snapped, is five points behind the Canadiens for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Miller made 27 saves for Buffalo.

"I gave the best player a breakaway to lose the game for us," Vanek said. "It's disappointing. It's tough when you let your teammates down that way. It was a stupid play."

Vanek opened the scoring 7:01 into the contest when he put home a rebound with the Sabres skating with the man advantage.

The lead was short-lived as Bogosian took a nice feed from Kovalchuk and beat Miller with a quick wrister from the right circle at the 8:36 mark.

Kozlov tallied with 9:34 left in the second to put the Thrashers in front, but Vanek's second power-play goal of the contest, 3 1/2 minutes later on a wrist shot from the middle slot, tied the game again.

Buffalo outshot Atlanta, 9-6, in the third period.

Game Notes

Buffalo concludes its three-game road trip at Washington on Friday, while the Thrashers begin a brief two-game road trip at Florida...Thrashers defenseman Anssi Salmela left early in the contest with an upper body injury and did not return...Atlanta improved to 17-19-2 at home this season...Buffalo fell to 15-18-6 as the visitor...Kovalchuk now has a six-game point streak and has at least a point in 18 of his last 20 games.