BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Jack Quinn scored the tying goal and also connected in a shootout, Alex Tuch ended the tiebreaker and the Buffalo Sabres beat the Toronto Maple Leafs 3-2 on Saturday night to rebound from their first loss since the Olympic break.
Buffalo was coming off a 2-1 home loss to Washington on Thursday night that ended an eight-game winning streak. The Atlantic Division-leading Sabres stretched their advantage over second-place Tampa Bay to four points and remained two points behind Carolina in the Eastern Conference.
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Buffalo Sabres right wing Josh Doan (91) and Toronto Maple Leafs center Bo Groulx (29) tie each other up behind the net during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon looks for the puck in traffic during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Owen Power (25) celebrates after his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Toronto Maple Leafs center Dakota Joshua (81) and Buffalo Sabres defenseman Luke Schenn (5) fight during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Buffalo Sabres center Noah Ostlund (86) is grabbed by Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly (44) and defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (95) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Toronto played its first game since captain Auston Matthews’ season-ending knee injury. Matthews tore the medial collateral ligament in his left knee Thursday night at home in a 6-4 victory over Anaheim on a knee-on-knee hit from Radko Gudas. Gudas was given a major penalty and ejected, then suspended five games for kneeing.
Defenseman Owen Power also scored for Buffalo, and Alex Lyon stopped 16 shots.
Max Domi scored for Toronto in his 800th NHL game. Dakota Joshua also scored, and Joseph Woll made 30 saves.
The Maple Leafs lost their first eight after the Olympic break before beating the Ducks.
Quinn tied it at 2 on a power play with 8:39 left in the second. He beat Woll with a wrist shot from the left side off a nifty pass from Noah Ostlund.
Power opened the scoring at 2:01 of the first with a wrist shot from the high slot off Zach Benson's feed from behind the goal. Joshua tied it at 7:09 of the period with a snap shot from the middle, and Domi put Toronto ahead at 53 seconds of second on a break with William Nylander.
Maple Leafs: At Minnesota on Sunday night.
Sabres: At Vegas on Tuesday night.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Buffalo Sabres right wing Josh Doan (91) and Toronto Maple Leafs center Bo Groulx (29) tie each other up behind the net during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Buffalo Sabres goaltender Alex Lyon looks for the puck in traffic during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Buffalo Sabres defenseman Owen Power (25) celebrates after his goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Toronto Maple Leafs center Dakota Joshua (81) and Buffalo Sabres defenseman Luke Schenn (5) fight during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Buffalo Sabres center Noah Ostlund (86) is grabbed by Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly (44) and defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (95) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Buffalo, N.Y. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
MADRID (AP) — Atletico Madrid and Arsenal exchanged penalties in a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals on Wednesday, a gritty encounter with plenty of intensity from start to finish even if it lacked the fireworks of a nine-goal thriller in Paris.
Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain had edged Bayern Munich 5-4 in France in Tuesday’s semifinal.
Viktor Gyökeres put Arsenal ahead at the Metropolitano stadium by converting a 44th-minute penalty kick. Julián Alvarez equalized for Atletico — also from the penalty spot — in the 56th.
Arsenal was awarded another penalty in the 78th after Eberechi Eze was brought down by David Hancko inside the area, but the call was overturned — several moments later — after a video review.
The second leg is in London next Tuesday, when both clubs will try to return to the final after a long absence and earn a chance to win the European title for the first time.
“Here you have to suffer. Many teams have suffered here, including some of the best in the world," Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta said. "We had some good moments in the match and moments where we had to suffer. The margins are very slim. We are in an incredible position — the semifinal of the Champions League. We have to play in front of our people — it’s in our hands.”
In the league phase of the competition, Arsenal routed Atletico 4-0 at the Emirates Stadium.
Atletico last made it to the Champions League final in 2016, when it lost to city rival Real Madrid.
“We tried,” Atletico midfielder Koke Resurreccion said. “We started losing with that penalty, which was doubtful, but the team recovered and we could equalize with a penalty ourselves. We had the opportunities to win, but it will all be decided in the second leg. I think we played a good match.”
Gyökeres broke the deadlock Wednesday from the penalty spot after he was brought down inside the area by Hancko, who was a bit late to the ball and slightly bumped the Arsenal striker from behind. The buildup came after Atletico lost possession in attack.
“Overall I think it was a tough game, we know it’s a tough place to come, but it’s only halftime,” Gyökeres said. “We know when we play at home, with our fans, it’s going to be different for sure and we just have to do our job, be at our best, and for sure it’s going to be a good game at home.”
Arsenal last appeared in the final in 2006, when it lost to Barcelona.
Atletico’s penalty came after a handball by Arsenal defender Ben White following a shot by Marcos Llorente. The call came after a video review. Alvarez converted the penalty with a firm shot for his 10th Champions League goal this season. He had to be replaced later in the second half with an apparent injury.
The penalty was Arsenal’s first attempt on target, but both teams had exchanged a few early chances. Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya had made a nice save on a shot by Alvarez, and Martin Odegaard — who also was later substituted — had his dangerous strike from inside the area blocked by Atletico defenders.
Alvarez led the Atletico attack early but the connection with Antoine Griezmann and Ademola Lookman didn’t work well until the second half.
Alvarez almost curled in a free-kick strike after the break, and both Lookman and Griezmann had chances shortly afterward. Griezmann struck the post with a shot in the 63rd. Lookman, who had been doubtful to start because of a muscle injury, missed from close range later in the second half.
“We played a very good second half and had the chances to win the match,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said.
Griezmann, who played his last Champions League match at home with Atletico, was named the most valuable player. The France star will join MLS club Orlando City this summer.
Many of the nearly 70,000 Atletico fans threw toilet paper from the stands before the match at the Metropolitano, creating a curtain of white paper.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Toliet paper streamers are unfurled from the stands before a Champions League semifinal, first leg, soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)
Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez, center, is blocked during a Champions League semifinal, first leg, soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)
Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres scores from a penalty shot during a Champions League semifinal, first leg, soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Atletico Madrid's David Hancko, right, fouls in the penalty box Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres during a Champions League semifinal, first leg, soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez shoots to score his sides first goal during a Champions League semifinal, first leg, soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez, 2nd right, celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during a Champions League semifinal, first leg, soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Arsenal's Eberechi Eze, center, during a training session in London, Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (John Walton/PA via AP)
Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori, left, and Gabriel Martinelli during a training session in London, Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (John Walton/PA via AP)
Atletico Madrid's head coach Diego Simeone reacts during the Copa del Rey final soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad in Seville, Spain, Saturday, April. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)
Atletico Madrid's head coach Diego Simeone reacts during the Copa del Rey final soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad in Seville, Spain, Saturday, April. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Jose Breton)
