John Tavares scores in OT as Maple Leafs down Sabres

John Tavares scored at 1:28 of overtime to lift the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 4-3 win against the visiting Buffalo Sabres on Saturday.

Tavares' goal, No. 499 of his career, came on a breakaway after a Buffalo turnover.

Nicholas Robertson, Matias Maccelli and Dakota Joshua scored for the Maple Leafs, who snapped a three-game losing streak (0-2-1). Cayden Primeau made 23 saves.

Tage Thompson scored twice and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 18 saves for the Sabres, who had won two straight. It was Luukkonen's first start of the regular season after being out since sustaining a lower-body injury in the first period of a preseason game on Oct. 1.

Thompson scored on the power play to put Buffalo ahead 3-2 at 7:06 of the third period, collecting a rebound at the left hashmarks and spinning around and firing it through Primeau's pads.

Joshua tied it 3-3 with a wrist shot from the top of the left circle that went far side on Luukkonen at 13:10.

Thompson gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead at 13:40 of the first period. Jiri Kulich sent a cross-ice feed to Thompson, who held it for a moment and wired a wrist shot high short side from the left circle.

Robertson tied it 1-1 at 18:33 with his first goal of the season. Easton Cowan was behind the net and spotted uncovered Robertson in front, where he quickly put it past Luukkonen blocker side.

Maccelli put Toronto ahead 2-1 at 1:59 of the second period. Tavares spotted Maccelli all alone on the doorstep and Maccelli easily deposited it past Luukkonen's left skate.

Buffalo started to pick up the pressure and finally got the goal back to pull even at 14:23. Ryan McLeod carried the puck up the left side and looped around behind the net before sending it down to Conor Timmins at the right point. Timmins quickly dished it to Bowen Byram at the left point for a wrist shot that beat Primeau on the far side for his first goal this season.

--Field Level Media