BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Jack Quinn scored the game-tying goal and a tiebreaker in the shootout, Alex Tuch sealed the tiebreaker and the Buffalo Sabers beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Saturday night, rebounding from their first loss since the Olympic break.
Buffalo lost 2-1 at home to Washington on Thursday night, ending its eight-game winning streak. The Atlantic Division-leading Sabers extended their lead over second-place Tampa Bay to four points and remain two points behind Carolina in the Eastern Conference.
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Toronto played its first game since captain Auston Matthews suffered a season-ending knee injury. Matthews suffered a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee during a knee-to-knee hit from Radko Gudas during Thursday night’s 6-4 home win over Anaheim. Gudas was heavily punished and ejected, then served a five-game suspension for taking a knee.
Defenseman Owen Ball also scored for Buffalo and Alex Lyon stopped 16 shots.
Max Domi scores for Toronto in his 800th NHL game. Dakota Joshua also scored and Joseph Wall made 30 saves.
The Maple Leafs lost their first eight games after the Olympic break before beating the Ducks.
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Quinn tied the game at 2 on a power play with 8:39 left in the second quarter. He took a nice pass from Noah Ostlund and beat Wall with a wrist shot from the left side.
Power opened the scoring 2:01 into the first period with a high wrist shot after a shot from behind Zach Benson’s net. Joshua tied the score with a quick shot from midfield at 7:09 of the period, and Domi gave Toronto the lead on William Nylander’s break at 53 seconds of the second period.
Next
Maple Leafs: At Minnesota on Sunday night.
Sabres: At Vegas on Tuesday night.
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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl