Leinster secured an impressive 20-19 away win over rivals Munster in a tight game at Thomond Park.

Tries in the second half from Scott Penny and Dan Sheehan edged the United Rugby Championship leaders ahead.

Munster were awarded a penalty try and a score from replacement Patrick Campbell set up a tense finale, but it was not enough to rescue the game for the hosts.

The win cements Leinster's position at the top of the URC table after an unbeaten start to the season, with Leo Cullen's men eight points clear of the Stormers after 10 matches.

The interprovincial derby was back in its traditional festive slot for the first time in three Covid-interrupted years, with a full house and electric atmosphere at Thomond Park.

After a frantic start, fly-half Ross Byrne settled the game down with a successful penalty to put the visitors ahead.

An arm-wrestle of a first quarter followed, with back-and-forth action as both sides struggled to gain the ascendancy.

Byrne added to his side's tally with another penalty just before the end of the first quarter.

A spell of territory for Munster in the Leinster 22 was rewarded with a try from number eight Coombes, who powered over from a short distance. Carberry added the extras to put his side ahead by a point.

The final action of the first half was an unsuccessful penalty attempt from Byrne. The game went into the break on a knife-edge, with the hosts 7-6 ahead.

Munster gained the ascendancy at the start of the second half and several acts of Leinster indiscipline culminated in a penalty try for Munster and a yellow card for number eight Max Deegan, who was judged to have illegally prevented Niall Scannell from grounding the ball.

Leinster hit back shortly after, with Penny crashing over following patient build-up from Leinster who started to dominate in terms of territory and possession.

The visitors went ahead with a try from hooker Sheehan, who tapped a penalty and used his powerful leg-drive to burrow over the line. Byrne added the extras with an impressive conversion from the corner.

Munster continued to battle and hit back with a try from replacement full-back Campbell, assisted by an excellent 20-yard pass from Craig Casey to put him into space in the corner.

Munster: Daly; Nash, Frisch, Crowley, Earls; Carbery, Murray; Kilcoyne, N Scaannell, Ryan, Kleyn, Beirne, O'Donoghue, O'Mahony (capt), Coombes.

Replacements: Barron, Wycherley, Salanoa, McDonald, Kendellen, Casey, R Scannell, Campbell.

Leinster: Keenan; Larmour, Ringrose (capt), Osborne, Lowe; R Byrne, N McCarthy; Porter, Sheehan, Healy; Baird, J McCarthy; Ruddock, Penny, Deegan.

Replacements: McKee, Milne, Abdaladze, Molony, Conan, McGrath, H Byrne, Turner.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres' game at the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday was postponed by the NHL on Monday because Buffalo International Airport remains closed due to a severe winter storm that has paralyzed the region.

A makeup date has yet to be determined.

A travel ban is in place in Buffalo, and the airport won't open until at least Wednesday morning as a result of a storm that's dumped close to 50 inches of snow on the area since Friday. The Sabres were scheduled to travel to Columbus on Tuesday morning following the NHL's mandatory Christmas break, which runs through Monday night.

Buffalo has won four straight but hasn't played since closing a three-game road trip with a 3-2 victory at Vegas on Dec. 19. The Sabres' home game against Tampa Bay on Dec. 23 was postponed as a result of the storm.

Buffalo is next scheduled to play Thursday night, when it hosts the Detroit Red Wings.

Arsenal padded their lead in the Premier League with a barnstorming, come-from-behind 3-1 win over West Ham United at the Emirates on Monday night.

Arsene Wenger looked on from the stands in north London for the first time since leaving the club in 2018 following his 22 years as Gunners manager, as table-topping Arsenal moved to 40 points from 15 games this season.

- Olley: Arsenal front line steps up in Jesus' absence
- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

Second-half goals from Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah cancelled out a first-half penalty by Said Benrahma to keep Arsenal seven points ahead of Newcastle United in second.

"We were very dominant today, we were just lacking that final pass," Nketiah said. "But we kept going and once we got one we knew we'd get more because we could feel the atmosphere behind us.

"There's a real unity and connection with the fans and we want to build on it."

Arsenal looked lively in the opening 20 minutes, but it was West Ham that struck first with a penalty kick as Benrahma dispatched an effort from the spot following William Saliba's foul on Jarrod Bowen in the area.

Mikel Arteta's side spent much of the remainder of the first half in West Ham's defensive third -- showing off plenty of tidy one-touch passing -- but could not find an equaliser and went into the break trailing 1-0.

Arsenal quickly went from one down to one up before the hour mark when Saka settled Martin Odegaard's mishit shot and rolled it home past Lukasz Fabianski, and Martinelli lashed a tight-angled blast in at the near post to give his team the lead.

Nketiah provided Arsenal's third to cap a delightful team move, cleverly turning to his left after Odegaard picked him out in the area and finding the back of the net at Fabianski's far post to all but secure the points with 20 minutes to play.

Arsenal were playing their first match since the season paused for the World Cup and their first since key striker Gabriel Jesus was ruled out of action for three months with a knee injury while playing for Brazil in Qatar.

Any concerns the injury could derail Arsenal's push for a first title since 2004 would have been heightened when they found themselves trailing at half-time, but a high-flying display in the second half put those fears to bed.

West Ham, who have not won away in the league since August, had done well to keep Mikel Arteta's side largely out of the area in the first half but their defence gave way once Arsenal found their groove after the break, helped by some fantastic service from Odegaard.

Next up for Arsenal, who maintained their 100% record at home this season, is a New Year's Eve trip to Brighton & Hove Albion, while David Moyes and West Ham host Brentford on Dec. 30.

Mikel Arteta believes Arsene Wenger chose the "right moment" to return to Arsenal and that his players put on a show worthy of the occasion in Monday's 3-1 win over West Ham United.

The Gunners recovered from a goal down as Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah all struck in the second half to secure a win which extends their lead at the top of the Premier League to seven points.

- Olley: Arsenal front line steps up in Jesus' absence
- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

Wenger managed Arsenal for almost 22 years before departing in 2018, later becoming FIFA's head of global football development.

Although the 72-year-old divided the Gunners' fanbase over his latter-day management of the club, Wenger was serenaded as he sat in the directors' box near owner Stan Kroenke and his son Josh.

"Winning, my mood is going to be much better talking to him and to be around the team," Arteta said after the match. "He picked the right moment, a really special day because Boxing Day is a beautiful day to play football and I thought today the levels were what he deserved and hopefully he'll like.

"The players didn't know [about it]. We wanted to keep it quiet and allow that space for Arsene. Stan and Josh are here as well and it was a really special day.

"Thank you so much to him for coming. Hopefully walking through the building he's going to feel everything that everybody thinks of him, the legacy he left here. As well his presence has to be very, very attached to this football club. Also, thank you to him for everything he did at the club.

"Hopefully he's going to leave here and be willing to spend more time with us and be more around us because he's such a big influence for me personally in my career, the way I see the game, but as well for this football club."

Liverpool have beaten Manchester United in the race to sign winger Cody Gakpo after agreeing a deal with PSV, the Dutch side announced on Monday.

Sources have told ESPN that the fee of the deal is around £37 million and that the sides are close to finalising his arrival in the January transfer window. PSV did not disclose the value of the deal, but general manager Marcel Brands said it will be a "record transfer" for the club.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

The Dutch club said in a statement: "PSV and Liverpool FC have reached an agreement on the proposed transfer of Cody Gakpo. The 23-year-old attacker will leave for England imminently where he will be subjected to the necessary formalities ahead of the completion of the transfer."

Gakpo, 23, emerged as a star of the World Cup in Qatar by scoring three goals for the Netherlands before their quarterfinal elimination at the hands of eventual champions Argentina.

With Colombia international Luis Diaz facing an extended period on the sideline after aggravating a knee injury during a midseason training break in Dubai, Liverpool have accelerated attempts to bolster their forward line by moving for Gakpo.

The left-sided forward was a top target for Leeds and Southampton during the summer, and United manager Erik ten Hag persuaded the Old Trafford club to consider a move for the player late in the summer window.

United had been eyeing a renewed move for Gakpo in January after the club's decision to cancel Cristiano Ronaldo's contract in November.

But having beaten United to the signing of Darwin Nunez in June, Liverpool are now set to do the same again by sealing a move for Gakpo when the winter transfer window opens on Sunday, Jan 1.

United States defender Tim Ream signed a contract extension with Fulham on Monday, the Premier League side announced, which ties the 35-year-old Ream to the club through the 2023-24 season.

The announcement comes on the same day that Ream scored his first career Premier League goal in a 3-0 Boxing Day win over Crystal Palace.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

"I feel the best I've ever felt, as confident as I've ever been," Ream told FFCTV after the game. "To extend it another 12 months into 2024 is a proud moment for myself and my family.

"I'm happy to continue on this journey with the Club, the fans and all the guys in the changing room."

A message from goalscorer @timream5: ?️

The good news just keeps on coming. ? pic.twitter.com/vHCflvCMDN

— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) December 26, 2022

Ream has been with Fulham since 2015. The club earned promotion after winning the Championship last season and currently sits eighth in the Premier League on 22 points.

"Since he joined the squad in 2015, Tim has been a reliable force at the heart of the defence," Fulham executive Tony Khan said. "Through his hard work and his dedication, he's become a favourite of our supporters, and on matchdays they collectively exclaim, 'REAM!' to celebrate his frequent contributions.

"I'm delighted that Tim will be with us for at least one additional season, and we are all very grateful for his contribution to the team."

Ream has been playing some of the best football of his career, and was one of the best players for the US in Qatar, where he played all four World Cup games for the Americans.

That strong play has continued with his club, and earned him high praise from Cottagers coach Marco Silva.

"It's been an unbelievable year for him -- collectively for us as a football club, and for him as an individual he's been fantastic," Silva said. "He's a great professional, a very good player, a really important player for me, a player that is leading by example."

MIAMI -- Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has entered the NFL's concussion protocol a day after the team's loss Sunday to the Green Bay Packers, coach Mike McDaniel said.

McDaniel said Tagovailoa displayed and admitted to having concussion symptoms when he spoke with team doctors Monday and was immediately placed into the protocol. He added that he's unsure on which play Tagovailoa might have initially suffered the concussion.

It marks the second time this season Tagovailoa has been placed into the protocol.

Backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will take first-team snaps while Tagovailoa is out, but McDaniel said it's too early to name a starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the New England Patriots.

"I just want guys to really be done right by, by the information we have, the science and all the medical expertise that we rely on," McDaniel said. "I care very deeply about each and every player, I take that very serious. I just want him to get healthy and have peace of mind in that regard. ... It's about the human being and making sure he's squared away."

Tagovailoa previously entered the concussion protocol after the Dolphins' game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4 and was hospitalized briefly then after his head hit the turf. He went on to miss the team's next two games and returned in Week 7.

Tagovailoa had taken another hard hit four days before the Cincinnati game during a win over Buffalo. He appeared to show concussion symptoms but was evaluated and stayed in the game.

The NFL later changed its concussion protocol to mandate that any player who shows possible concussion symptoms -- including a lack of balance or stability -- sit out the remainder of a game.

Tagovailoa said in October that injuries like the one he suffered against the Bengals don't weigh on him; it was the second time in his playing career that he was hospitalized for a football-induced injury, including the displaced hip he suffered during his final season at Alabama.

"I would say those kinds of things weigh more on my parents than they do for me, just with me being their son," he said in October. "But I mean, I just want to go out there and do good -- do good for our team, do right for this organization, do right for the guys inside the building that I see every day that work really hard. That's all. I mean, I enjoy being here. I enjoy all the guys in the building. So when I'm not able to do something about it and help our team and our organization, then that just really sucks."

Tagovailoa has set career highs this season in every major passing statistic, but the Dolphins have lost four straight games and are the No. 7 seed in the AFC playoff picture. They can secure their first playoff berth since 2016 if they win out, or if they win one game and the New York Jets lose one of their remaining games.

Miami plays the Patriots and the Jets to close out its regular-season schedule.

Sacramento Kings All-Star center Domantas Sabonis has been diagnosed with an avulsion fracture of the ulnar collateral ligament of the right thumb, the team announced Monday.

The Kings said he will be listed as questionable for Tuesday's home game against the Denver Nuggets, indicating he may try to play through the injury.

Sabonis sustained the injury to his non-shooting hand in the fourth quarter of Sacramento's 125-111 loss to the Washington Wizards on Friday.

He has been a driving force in the Kings' renaissance this season, averaging 17.9 points, a league-leading 12.4 rebounds and 6.7 assists for the current No. 6 seed in the Western Conference.

Sacramento hasn't made the playoffs since the 2005-06 season, the NBA's longest postseason drought. The Kings are 17-14, 3½ games behind first-place Denver in the West and only a half-game behind fourth-place Phoenix.

Sabonis, an All-Star in 2020 and 2021 with Indiana, was traded by the Pacers to the Kings last February in a deal that included guards Tyrese Haliburton and Buddy Hield.

Information from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski was included in this report.