Thompson - Buffalo Hockey Beat

Sabres need Tage Thompson, centers to produce as they face elimination; Owen Power has chance to play Game 5

MONTREAL – In their second-round series against the Montreal Canadiens, the Buffalo Sabres’ top three centers – Tage Thompson, Josh Norris and Ryan McLeod – have combined to score just three goals and seven points in five games.

The pivots’ total rating, minus-12, is “led” by Thompson’s awful minus-9.

No wonder the Sabres, who trail the best-of-seven series 3-2, must win Game 6 tonight at the Bell Centre to prolong their season.... Read the full article

Lindy Ruff wants to ease pressure on Sabres as they face elimination; Buffalo needs more from Alex Tuch

MONTREAL – Instead of practicing or holding a meeting or video session on Friday before they departed Buffalo for a do-or-die Game 6, coach Lindy Ruff told the Sabres to stay away from the rink and meet at the airport.

His reasoning? Fresh off Thursday’s 6-3 home loss to the Canadiens, Ruff wants to ease the stress and have them focus on Saturday’s game at the Bell Centre.

For the first time in these Stanley ... Read the full article

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff says Canadiens are ‘going down’ to sell penalties

BUFFALO – Whether the Sabres like it or not, coach Lindy Ruff said, officials will call what he described as “light penalties” both ways during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

“We had some self-inflicted pain,” Ruff said after the Sabres gave the Montreal Canadiens six power plays in Tuesday’s 3-2 win in the Bell Centre. “And I think there’s a part of the game our players need to understand.”

Of course, Ruff also believes the Canadiens ... Read the full article

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, Zach Benson star as Sabres defeat Canadiens, even series: ‘Our belief never wavered’

MONTREAL – Last week, coach Lindy Ruff said he relayed a straightforward message to goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen as he patiently waited for his next opportunity to play.

“Your time will come, you got to be ready,” Ruff told him.

At the time, with goalie Alex Lyon performing so dynamically, Luukkonen might’ve felt his next start would materialize in the distant future. But Ruff has relied on two, sometimes three netminders all season.... Read the full article

Even after two ugly losses, Sabres still in good shape against Canadiens: ‘I’m really confident in the group’

MONTREAL – It’s not just that the Buffalo Sabres lost two straight games to the Canadiens and fell behind in the best-of-seven series. Oh no. It’s how they dropped those contests.

The Canadiens throttled the Sabres in consecutive four-goal victories, outscoring them 11-3 to roar back and take a 2-1 lead.

Following Friday’s 5-1 home setback, the Sabres scored 53 seconds into Sunday’s ugly 6-2 loss at the raucous Bell Centre before imploding.... Read the full article

Sabres implode after fast start in loss to Canadiens, fall behind in series: ‘Some adversity for us’

MONTREAL – Center Tage Thompson sat at his stall on Sunday, sounding unshaken as he calmly answered questions from a throng of reporters following the Buffalo Sabres’ ugly 6-2 loss to the Canadiens.

In losing by four goals for the second consecutive game, the Sabres fell behind 2-1 in the best-of-seven second-round series.

In the Canadiens, the Sabres, the NHL’s best team over the last five months, have possibly met their match.... Read the full article

After loss to Canadiens, Sabres regroup, change power play: ‘Shake it up’

MONTREAL – The Buffalo Sabres experienced this earlier in the postseason. Fresh off an emotional Game 1 win at home, they followed up with a lousy performance, allowing their opponent to tie the series before they hit the road.

Against the Bruins, the Sabres showcased an emphatic response following a tough loss, winning the next two games in Boston and seizing control of the series.

So, what might happen tonight and Tuesday against the Canadiens ... Read the full article

Sabres struggle as Canadiens tie series at 1; Tage Thompson has rough night

BUFFALO – Almost four minutes into Friday’s third period, with the Sabres trailing 3-1 and furiously trying to score, center Tage Thompson grabbed the puck inside the Montreal blue line and lost his balance as he began stickhandling.

As Thompson fell and spun around, Canadiens defenseman Alexandre Carrier snagged the loose puck and zoomed down the ice on a two-on-one, beating Sabres goalie Alex Lyon from the left circle.

“Just fighting it tonight,” Thompson said ... Read the full article

In defeating Bruins and winning playoff round, Sabres hope they’re just getting started: ‘Attacked this series as a team’

BOSTON – Fifty wins, 109 points and an Atlantic Division title are nice, but months ago, the Buffalo Sabres’ season became about a lot more than simply making the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Early in the winter, it became evident they possessed a special group and could wreak havoc in the postseason.

Their opening-round series victory only strengthened the belief can play long into the spring.... Read the full article

As Sabres try to eliminate Bruins again, confident Tage Thompson believes he will start scoring

BOSTON – In the regular season, Sabres center Tage Thompson endured five stretches of at least four games in which he did not score a goal.

Even the most dynamic scorers – Thompson just cracked the 40-goal mark for the third time in four seasons – are streaky. It’s normal. They’re not going to score every game.

Of course, on the grand stage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, everything is magnified. A short four-game drought ... Read the full article