New York Rangers 2, Florida Panthers 3 FINAL OT

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) _ Olli Jokinen is doing his best to keep the Florida Panthers in the playoff race.

Jokinen scored in overtime for the second straight game to lift the Panthers to a 3-2 victory Saturday night over the New York Rangers.

Jokinen netted the game-winner 2:54 into overtime for the Panthers, who rallied from a 2-0 deficit. On Thursday at Montreal, Jokinen scored in regulation and again in the extra session.

``I want to score, that's one thing,'' said Jokinen, who has three overtime goals this season. ``A lot of guys worry about making pretty passes. You need to shoot it. You have to if you want to score.''

Lyle Odelein and Nathan Horton also scored for the Panthers, who snapped a three-game home winless streak and beat the Rangers for just the second time in 11 games (2-8-1).

Jokinen won this one on a two-on-one when he tipped in a cross-ice pass from Donald Audette.

``I had a pretty strange feeling I might get a chance,'' Jokinen said. ``I was pretty fresh.''

Florida moved within seven points of the New York Islanders for the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Panthers have 10 games remaining, while the Islanders have 11.

``Early in the year, a tie would have been good, but not now,'' Jokinen said. ``We need two points every game.''

Rookie defenseman Fedor Tyutin scored his first NHL goal, and newly reacquired forward Sandy McCarthy also scored for the Rangers. McCarthy was claimed off waivers this week from Boston.

``It's a good feeling to get my first goal, Tyutin said. ``I was excited about it.''

Roberto Luongo made 37 saves for Florida.

Jamie McLennan, making his first start for the Rangers since being acquired from Calgary on March 6, stopped 29 shots.

``It was a good night, a good test to get back in,'' McLennan said. ``I felt ready.''

Jaromir Jagr almost gave the Rangers the lead in the third period, but his wraparound attempt hit the far post.

Odelein, who came in with seven points in 71 games, began Florida's comeback with a goal and an assist during a wild finish to the second period.

``That's what veteran leaders do for your hockey club,'' Panthers coach John Torchetti said. ``Every night they want to be out there when it's a big play.''

Odelein scored his first goal of the season at 18:04 on a five-on-three when his slap shot from the point deflected off the stick of Rangers defenseman Chris McAllister.

``I've been getting a lot of chances lately, they just haven't been going in,'' Odelein said. ``I finally got a break.''

Odelein then set up Horton's power-play goal at 18:35 when his wraparound attempt was banged in by the rookie forward.

A couple of miscues gave the Rangers a 2-0 lead.

With the Rangers on a power play, Panthers defenseman Andreas Lilja tried to ice the puck down the middle of the ice, but he fanned on the shot. The puck slid to the front of the net to McCarthy, who turned and beat Luongo with a shot over the goalie's blocker.

Tyutin scored at the beginning of the Panthers' five-on-three advantage late in the second period when he intercepted Stephen Weiss' cross-ice pass and beat Luongo with a move to his forehand.

``This team right now is all about effort and doing the best we can,'' Rangers interim coach Tom Renney said. ``It's not easy for our guys to come to the rink and have to deal with situations they create for themselves, but they are doing the best they can.''