Thompson - Buffalo Hockey Beat

After injury, Sabres star Tage Thompson resumes what could be special season

BUFFALO – Following a five-game absence, Tage Thompson quickly resumed his role as the Sabres’ offensive catalyst, generating chance after chance during the last three contests.

The ultra-talented center has attempted 30 shots and landed 16 on goal since returning from a lower-body injury, the NHL’s third-highest total entering Monday’s schedule.

He converted zero of those opportunities.... Read the full article

Dylan Cozens sparks Sabres’ rally in OT loss to Canucks: ‘Heck of a point’

BUFFALO – After the Vancouver Canucks capitalized on Dylan Cozens’ penalty early in Friday afternoon’s third period, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff knew his center would take ownership for his actions.

Cozens is notoriously hard on himself, and sometimes his intensity gets the best of him.

The Canucks grabbed the lead during the first of Cozens’ two penalties. He also earned an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty by letting an official know just how much disliked his holding ... Read the full article

Sabres’ JJ Peterka struggling to score; Rasmus Dahlin leaves practice early

BUFFALO – With about 80 seconds remaining in Wednesday’s 1-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild and the Sabres pressing for the tying goal, winger Alex Tuch created a juicy rebound by tipping center Tage Thompson’s shot on net.

Winger JJ Peterka, who was lurking nearby, quickly pounced on the loose puck between the left circle and crease and narrowly missed tying the game.

“Just jumped there, tried to hit the net and I just missed ... Read the full article

Sabres outplay Wild, still lose in Tage Thompson’s return from injury

BUFFALO – The final outcome, a 1-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild that ended their three-game winning streak, did not discourage the Sabres.

Why should it? They outplayed the Wild from the get-go Wednesday, outshooting them 16-4 in the first period and 39-29 overall. They attempted a whopping 87 shots, 32 more than their opponent.

As Wild goalie Filip Gustavsson stymied every scoring chance, the Sabres plowed forward, refusing to deviate from their game plan ... Read the full article

In midst of slump, Sabres’ Jack Quinn looks like scoring threat again

BUFFALO – For one of the few times this season, you couldn’t miss Jack Quinn. The Sabres winger dazzled throughout the night, aggressively creating offense.

Quinn, 23, was often the best player on the ice.

While he did not score, similar efforts will almost certainly produce the goals that have been so difficult to come by this season.

“I thought it was my best game by far,” Quinn said of Friday’s 3-2 overtime road ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tage Thompson says he’s ready to return from lower-body injury

BUFFALO – In Tage Thompson’s absence, the Sabres have done well, going 4-1-0 and winning all three stops last week in California without their top center.

By the end of the trip, Thompson, who said he’s “ready to go” for tonight’s home game against the Minnesota Wild, told the Sabres he would play if they needed him.

Still, they held him out of Friday’s 3-2 overtime win against the Anaheim Ducks and Saturday’s 4-2 victory ... Read the full article

Sabres send Devon Levi to Rochester; Buffalo recalls prospect with Jordan Greenway injured

BUFFALO – Before Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen suffered an injury, Devon Levi played just four of the Sabres’ first 15 games, hardly an ideal workload for a young goalie.

Levi, 22, must play regularly. Starting once over a three-week stretch, as he did after allowing six goals in a loss Oct. 17, doesn’t help him. Having recently added veteran James Reimer from waivers, the Sabres have an established backup option behind Luukkonen, who has recovered from his ... Read the full article

Sabres’ UPL, Tage Thompson won’t play versus Flyers; Jordan Greenway injured

BUFFALO – In Tage Thompson’s absence against the St. Louis Blues, centers Ryan McLeod and Dylan Cozens picked up the slack for the Sabres’ leading scorer.

McLeod scored once and created linemate Alex Tuch’s late tying goal in Thursday’s 4-3 overtime win by deftly feeding him from behind the net.

Earlier in the third period, Cozens knocked down Oskar Sundqvist before racing to the net and converting a rebound. While officials overturned the goal because ... Read the full article

Mature effort helps Sabres rally to beat Blues in OT: ‘Learning the game’

BUFFALO – The competitive balance in the NHL has perhaps never been higher, meaning the difference between the top and bottom teams is slim.

There are no gimme games, as coaches will tell you. Still, this week, two teams – the St. Louis Blues and Montreal Canadiens – limped into KeyBank Center reeling and ripe to be exploited.

The Sabres nearly lost both games.

But forget the Sabres needed to late rally and overtime Thursday ... Read the full article

Sabres’ James Reimer geared up to be back; Tage Thompson, UPL out injured

BUFFALO – On Wednesday night, hours after the Sabres reclaimed him on waivers, goalie James Reimer told his wife, April, he’s looking forward to wearing some matching gear again.

After the Anaheim Ducks claimed him from Buffalo on Oct. 7, Reimer wore the black and red pads he planned on using when the Sabres sported their third jerseys. The red clashed with the Ducks’ orange color scheme.

Instead of a painted mask, he wore a ... Read the full article