Boston, MA (Sports Network) - Andrew Ference tied the game inside the final minute of regulation and Aaron Ward tallied the game-winner in overtime, as the Boston Bruins rallied to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers, 3-2, in a key matchup at TD Banknorth Garden.

Chuck Kobasew also scored for Boston, which trailed most of the game but used the late comeback to halt a three-game winless streak. The Bruins, who currently hold the seventh playoff seed, are now two points ahead of the Flyers. Tim Thomas made 24 saves in the win.

Mike Richards, who returned to action after a nine-game absence with a hamstring injury, scored his 24th goal of the season and Danny Briere also scored for the Flyers, who continued a recent trend of losing late-game leads. In Tuesday's game at Toronto, Philly held a 3-0 lead in the third period but lost in overtime. Marty Biron allowed three goals on 36 shots in the loss.

"It's just frustration at the way we're letting points go," said Briere. "We played a great game and we deserved a better fate, but we've just got to find a way to get it done when it matters most."

Philadelphia, which holds the eighth playoff spot and is one point ahead of Buffalo, is now winless in its last three games (0-1-2) and will travel to Pittsburgh for a contest against the Penguins on Sunday afternoon.

Trailing 2-1 inside the final minute of the third period, the Bruins pulled Thomas in favor of the extra skater. Following a flurry of shots that Biron stopped, the puck kicked into the left circle. Ference wound up for a slap shot that was headed wide of the net, but the disc deflected off the skate of Philadelphia's Jeff Carter and into the back of the net with 27 seconds to go.

"I can't ask for a bigger goal at a crucial time," said Bruins head coach Claude Julien. "That goal was like a due reward. I felt like this game was ours."

Nearly two minutes into overtime, Carter had a chance to redeem himself but was unable to beat Thomas on a clear breakaway after he intercepted the puck and skated in all alone.

"We didn't bury them -- Carter had a chance to win right before they scored, so it's one of those things. They hang around and end up winning the hockey game," said Flyers coach John Stevens.

After Thomas stoned Carter, the Bruins hustled the other way and P.J. Axelsson carried the puck over the blue line on the right side before his cross-ice pass to Ward. From the high left slot above the circle, Ward's slap shot fooled a partially screened Biron and the puck sailed into the net as Boston celebrated the win.

Boston tallied the only goal of the opening period on Kobasew's 21st of the season at the 12:21 mark. After a shot from inside the left circle by Marco Sturm, Biron allowed a long rebound. Several Flyers had a chance to clear the puck from the zone and the disc eventually caromed onto the stick of Kobasew, whose wrist shot from the inner rim of the right circle lit the lamp.

Philadelphia erased the early deficit and scored twice in the second period for a 2-1 edge.

First, at the 9:14 mark, Richards netted his 24th goal of the season. Joffrey Lupul streaked down the right-wing side and released a wrist shot from the top of the circle. Thomas made the save, but the rebound kicked up into the air and Richards batted it home from the top of the crease with Shane Hnidy draped on his back. The play was reviewed to determine if Richards' stick was higher than the crossbar, but the goal stood.

Over three minutes later, Briere's 26th goal put the Flyers in front. Vinny Prospal led a 3-on-2 rush over the blue line and he held control down the left-wing side along the half-wall. Prospal moved inside the circle and sent a pass across the low slot for Briere, who redirected it home from near the right post with 7:35 remaining in the second stanza.

The Bruins were held off the scoreboard through the remainder of the second and had several quality scoring chances in the third. With under 11 minutes to go in regulation, Sturm had a good look from the slot but his snap shot was turned aside.