Ilya Kovalchuk scored the tying goal late in regulation and Marc Savard netted the winner 2:45 into overtime on Atlanta’s only shot of the extra session, lifting the Thrashers to a 3-2 comeback victory yesterday that sent the Rangers to their season-worst fifth straight loss. The Blueshirts, clinging to first place in the Atlantic Division, blew a 2-0 second-period lead.

Both goals came on the power play that until Kovalchuk scored with 4:41 remaining in regulation was 0-for-6. He then set up Savard’s 25th goal, scored with a rising shot from the right circle.

New York, which lost 1-0 in Montreal on Saturday night, has scored just six goals in its longest skid of the season. The Rangers have earned two points during the slide, both in overtime losses this week to the Thrashers.

Kovalchuk is tied for second in the NHL with 42 goals – one more than his league-leading total in the 2003-04 season and two fewer than Jaromir Jagr, who gave the Rangers a 2-0 lead in the second period.

Kovalchuk’s goal came as the Rangers were down two men. The second penalty was a delay-of-game call against defenseman Darius Kasparaitis, who fired a clearing attempt over the glass.

Kari Lehtonen made 33 saves, including 16 in a busy second period when the Rangers built their lead, and Ronald Petrovicky also scored for Atlanta – 5-2 since the Olympic break with four overtime victories. The Thrashers are three points behind eighth-place Montreal in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Henrik Lundqvist made 28 saves but still hasn’t won in four starts since leading Sweden to the Olympic gold medal two weeks ago. The Rangers are trying to find their offense as Philadelphia closes in on the Atlantic Division lead.

Martin Straka gave New York a 1-0 lead 5:39 into the second frame.

Lundqvist, in his fourth straight start following a two-game layoff after the Turin Games, made 10 saves in the first period when New York killed off Atlanta’s three power plays, and faced only three in the second.

Lehtonen started off shaky and fought off many shots – including some that came in from long range. He was better in the second when he allowed both goals.

Jagr made it 2-0 with a power-play goal that was set up by returning rookie forward Petr Prucha and new defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh, acquired Thursday from Anaheim.

Prucha, back following an eight-game absence due to a knee injury, got the puck to Jagr for an in-close shot. Lehtonen deflected it to the side, but Jagr got to the rebound and whipped in a backhander from a near-impossible angle.

It was only the second time in five games the Rangers managed more than one goal, and both came against Atlanta.