Thompson - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Craig Anderson posts shutout, Sabres score six late goals in win over Kings

BUFFALO – At 41, Sabres goalie Craig Anderson hasn’t shown many signs of graying. In fact, the NHL’s oldest player can even make hockey’s toughest position look easy.

Take, for example, the 20-year veteran’s splendid 40-save performance in Tuesday’s 6-0 shellacking of the Los Angeles Kings, the 43rd shutout of his decorated career.

Anderson was the Sabres’ backbone as they struggled to generate offense early, making 16-first period stops and 30 saves through 40 minutes ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Casey Mittelstadt earns chance to showcase talents on top line

BUFFALO – Sabres winger Casey Mittelstadt’s gig on the top line is only temporary.

Center Tage Thompson and wingers Jeff Skinner and Alex Tuch form one of the NHL’s most lethal scoring trios. When Skinner returns from his three-game suspension for cross-checking, he will likely assume his regular role as the left wing beside Thompson and Tuch.

“I don’t think I’m taking Skinny’s spot,” Mittelstadt joked following Monday’s practice at KeyBank Center.... Read the full article

Five-goal game earns Sabres’ Tage Thompson NHL Second Star honors

BUFFALO – Sabre center Tage Thompson’s dynamic five-goal, six-point outing has earned him NHL Second Star honors for the week ending Sunday.

Thompson, 25, performed dominantly in Wednesday’s 9-4 road win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, becoming just the second Sabres player to score five goals in one game. Dave Andreychuk also accomplished the feat in 1985-86.

Incredibly, Thompson scored four goals and five points in the first period, tying the NHL record for most ... Read the full article

Jeff Skinner’s match penalty costs Sabres in OT loss to Penguins

BUFFALO – The edge Jeff Skinner possesses makes him one of the NHL’s most unique talents. Not only is the Sabres winger a top scorer, he’s also willing to go hard after opponents.

To wit: with 22 seconds left in the third period of Friday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, Jake Guentzel hit Sabres goalie Craig Anderson’s hand as he froze the puck. Skinner took umbrage and went after Guentzel.

Guentzel slashed Skinner ... Read the full article

After slow start and scratches, Sabres’ Peyton Krebs contributing again

BUFFALO – When the Sabres scratched Peyton Krebs four out of five games late last month, Tage Thompson texted his teammate one night and reminded him of what he experienced not long ago.

By now, Thompson’s story is well known. The center struggled for years to make a mark. Less than two seasons ago, he was a healthy scratch. Today, of course, he’s one of the NHL’s most prolific goal scorers.

“When he was my ... Read the full article

Sabres’ Tage Thompson never doubted he’d become star: ‘I always knew’

BUFFALO – Coach Don Granato was struggling to conceal five pucks as he addressed the Sabres following center Tage Thompson’s dynamic five-goal, six-point effort in Wednesday’s 9-4 annihilation of the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Moments earlier, Chris Dierken, the team’s director of media relations, had handed him every puck Thompson scored with during perhaps the greatest individual performance in the franchise’s 53-year history.

Granato kept two pucks wedged in each each pocket and another in his ... Read the full article

Notes on Sabres star Tage Thompson’s dominant five-goal, six-point game

We’re going to break this down a bit because center Tage Thompson’s brilliant five-goal, six-point night ranks as one of the greatest performances in the Buffalo Sabres’ 53-year history.

Thompson, 25, was downright dominant early in Wednesday’s 9-4 annihilation of the hapless Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena, scoring four goals and five points in the first period as the Sabres opened up a stunning 6-0 lead.

Incredibly, he recorded his second hat trick ... Read the full article

Sabres beat Sharks, get more scoring from ‘Kid Line’: ‘A lot of chemistry’

BUFFALO – If the struggling Sabres couldn’t fix some of their recent problems and earn a much-needed win against the lowly San Jose Sharks, well, you had to wonder when they’d ever get on track.

The Sharks limped into town Sunday to close a four-game road trip having lost four of their last five contests, including a defeat a night earlier in Ottawa.

They were ripe to be beaten and the Sabres, as their 6-3 ... Read the full article

Lack of discipline burns Sabres in loss to Avalanche: ‘Some bad penalties’

BUFFALO – The Sabres’ penalty killing has alternated this week between abysmal and excellent, helping them lose two games and win another.

In Thursday’s 6-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche at KeyBank Center, it was awful, allowing three goals in six attempts to the NHL’s top power play, including two in a span of 49 seconds in the second period.

A night earlier in their 5-4 shootout win in Detroit, the Sabres killed all seven ... Read the full article

Sabres implode late, fall to Lightning in OT: ‘We backed off’

BUFFALO – With less than six minutes left in Monday’s 6-5 overtime loss, winger Jeff Skinner grabbed the puck near the goal line and beat goalie Brian Elliott short side, giving the Sabres what felt like a commanding two-goal lead.

After falling behind 2-0 early to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Sabres roared back, tying the game before the first period ended and grabbing a second-period lead. When Brayden Point’s second-power play-goal knotted the game ... Read the full article