BUFFALO – It can be argued no NHL player has performed more dynamically over the past week than Tage Thompson, who scored five goals and eight points and buoyed the Sabres’ three-game win streak.
During that short stretch, Thompson has produced more than Connor McDavid, the superstar on pace for just the fifth 200-point season in NHL history and the first by a player not named Wayne Gretzky.
Of course, Thompson, 29, almost certainly couldn’t match McDavid’s eye-popping point total over a full campaign. He could, however, score more goals than the ultra-slick Edmonton Oilers center.
Thompson has scored 10 times in the first 14 games this season entering Wednesday’s contest against the Ottawa Senators, a torrid 59-goal pace over a full 84-game season. McDavid, having scored nine goals in 15 outings entering Tuesday’s game against the New Jersey Devils, had a 50-goal pace.
It’s no coincidence the Sabres found a groove last week in California as Thompson caught fire.
After recording an assist in last Tuesday’s 2-0 win against the San Jose Sharks, he enjoyed one of the best outings of his 10-year career in Thursday’s entertaining 7-6 victory against the Anaheim Ducks, recording a natural hat trick and five points.
He scored two goals, including the late power-play winner, in Saturday afternoon’s 3-2 win over the Los Angeles Kings.
While it’s early, 50 goals, one of hockey most prestigious numbers, certainly seems within reach for Thompson.
“Every season you come into a new year with goals and expectations,” he told the Times Herald following Tuesday’s practice. “That’s always a number (50) that I’d like to hit or get close to. Yeah, haven’t hit it yet and been close a few times.”
The American scored a career-high 47 goals in 2022-23 and 40 times last season. He has averaged 40 goals per season over the last five years.
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff attributes some of Thompson’s recent productivity to his linemates. He has spent the last three games playing right wing alongside center Peyton Krebs, his linemate the second half of last season, and Zach Benson.
Thompson said the diminutive Benson, who has a team-high 11 assists, brings “a lot of playmaking” to the line.
“His work ethic and his tenacity, just getting loose pucks and winning puck battles, coming up with pucks just allows you to play more O-zone and generate more offense,” Thompson said.
Ruff often moves Thompson, who has spent most of the last six seasons at center, to the wing.
Last week, he pumped 18 shots on goal and attempted 25. On Saturday, he registered eight shots and attempted 13, tying his season high.
“He’s getting more opportunities,” Ruff said of Thompson’s last three games. “I think part of that is the line change has helped them. I think Benson is a good player for him. He hangs onto pucks down low, can find him. Again, last year, for a long period of time, Krebs was that guy that was with him, is back with him again, and we’ve seen some dividends there.”
Ruff said not playing down low in the defensive zone, the center’s responsibility, has freed Thompson to generate more scoring opportunities.
“So he’s getting out of the zone a little bit quicker and able to probably find one or two more chances a game,” he said. “And when he does, we know that with the shot he has, like the LA (goal), just quick wrister from about the top of the circle, he can pretty well score from anywhere.”
The 6-foot-6, 220-pound Thompson said it doesn’t matter where he plays.
“Both positions present different opportunities as far as offense, but still just try to find ways to score,” he said.
Thompson, who earned NHL First Star honors for his exploits last week, looked dynamic against the Ducks, utilizing his speed to wreak havoc all night. He scored twice after beating defenders down the wing and driving to the net.
“When I see him driving guys wide with his big frame like that with speed, moving his legs, it’s pretty hard to stop,” Krebs said. “And he does that on me in practice, and I can’t stop it. When he’s doing that in a game, demanding it, ripping it, that’s when you can see he’s dominant and full of confidence.”
At the beginning of his scoring tear last week, Thompson made a significant defensive contribution, blocking a shot with his chest in the slot in a tight game in San Jose.
“Those are other areas of the game that you have to do as well,” Thompson said. “It’s not fun, but I think it’s what win games, sacrificing yourself for your teammates.”