BUFFALO, N.Y. – Jaromir Jagr scored the decisive goal in a shootout, lifting the New York Rangers to a 3-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres.

The goal capped a solid game for Jagr who scored his team-leading 20th goal and added an assist in regulation. Michael Nylander also had a goal and assist for the Rangers, who overcame two one-goal deficits and won their third straight game.

Chris Drury and Jay McKee scored for Buffalo, which had a three-game winning streak snapped.

Jagr decided the shootout – the third straight the Rangers have won – after both teams scored on their first two chances.

Driving at the net, Jagr avoided Martin Biron’s pokecheck and flipped the puck into the open left side.

Kevin Weekes then preserved the win when he stopped Chris Drury on Buffalo’s third shootout opportunity. Drury fanned on his shot, allowing Weekes to make an easy stick save.

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff inserted Biron after starter Mika Noronen allowed Martin Straka to score on the Rangers’ first shootout attempt.

Nylander forced extra time when he scored with 4:14 left in the third period. He flipped a shot from a bad angle over Noronen, who kicked out his left pad to make an initial stop on Jagr’s drive from the right circle.

The goal came four minutes after McKee scored on wrister from the left point that made its way through a crowd and fooled Weekes.

Weekes stopped 37 shots.

Noronen was sharp, making 25 saves. His best stop came late in the second period when, lying in the crease, he managed to kick out his pads to foil Straka – set up alone to the left of the net.

The Rangers managed one shot in overtime, despite enjoying a power play over the final 1:45 after Dmitri Kalinin was penalized for hooking.

Jagr’s second-period goal was the 557th of his career, moving him into sole possession of 18th place on the NHL list, one ahead of former Boston great John Bucyk. Jagr could’ve scored more but had three shots hit goal posts – including two during a 30-second span midway through the first period.

Rangers defenseman Ville Nieminen also had a shot go off the post midway through the third period.

Notes: The Sabres honored former captain Danny Gare by retiring his No. 18 during a pregame ceremony. Gare, a two-time 50-goal scorer, had 267 goals and 233 assists for 500 points in six-plus seasons with Buffalo. He became the fifth Sabres player to have his number retired, joining Tim Horton and the French Connection trio of Gilbert Perreault, Rene Robert and Richard Martin. … Jagr, who has two goals and six assists in his last three games, sits three goals behind former Montreal great Guy Lafleur on the NHL career list. … Sabres RW J.P. Dumont (groin strain) missed his second straight game.

AP-ES-11-22-05 2206EST