NEW YORK – The silence in the Ranger dressing room told the story.

With the players speaking in almost a whisper and a general state of melancholy throughout, the Blueshirts knew they lost more than just a point in the 2-1 overtime loss to the Flyers.

They missed a chance to move closer to their playoff spot.

“We lost a big point tonight,” said coach Tom Renney. “That is the most important thing to recognize. How we lost it, I don’t think we can become paranoid by that. These are the big games we are playing against good opponents and every point is valuable.”

Because of turnovers, a third period lead evaporated and a breakaway by Mike Richards in overtime caused the game winner.

Unlike last Friday in Philadelphia, when the Rangers fought back, this loss stung a little bit more.

“We had some chances,” said Rangers captain Jaromir Jagr, who scored the only Rangers goal, 1:41 into the game. “There were a lot of scoring chances and a 1-0 lead is not enough. Sooner or later, somebody is going to make a mistake and that’s what happened; and they tied the game.”

After that early tally, the Blueshirts kept coming at Martin Biron with shots. They had some great chances in the first, but the Flyers netminder was able to settle down with no further damage. He had 31 saves.

Henrik Lundqvist was good, as well with 23 saves, but Ranger errors caused the Flyers to get their chances and ultimately capitalize on them. Especially in the third, where the Rangers looked to maintain their 1-0 lead, but were foiled by Daniel Briere at 7:32 when he caught Sean Avery out of position – who was playing center, not his normal place – and beat Lundqvist to tie the match.

“I thought I had it,” said Lundqvist. “I was right there but it slid under my pad. I thought I came down with it but it got in.”

“Our guys showed the patience necessary to hang in there,” said Flyers coach John Stevens. “And Danny Briere has probably been our best player lately.”

Briere’s heroic shot was enough to give the Flyers one point and then 2:16 into the extra session, Richards became hero No. 2 to Philly when Jason Smith intercepted Sean Avery’s pass and sent it to Richards, who broke away down the center of the ice to beat Lundqvist for the game winner.

“I’m very disappointed with how it happened,” said Avery. “I made a terrible pass and they went on to score. We made two mistakes, primarily both by me and that’s the difference in the game.”

And why the dressing room went silent afterwards.

Notes: Jagr’s goal was his 20th of the season, making it 17 consecutive years with 20 or more goals, tying Marcel Dionne, Brett Hull and Mats Sundin for the third longest in league history…This concludes the season series between the Rangers and Flyers with the Blueshirts going 5-1-2 against their Pennsylvanian neighbors…The Blueshirts have six games left three at home and three on the road with the Devils, Penguins and Islanders.

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