On Thursday night, the Buffalo Sabres beat the Ottawa Senators by a score of 5-3. Several factors contributed to Buffalo’s success. Tage Thompson was a standout, scoring two goals. After the game, Thompson’s teammate Dylan Cozens wrapped it up nicely when he pointed out Thompson’s ability to make opponents “look silly.” Cozens also expressed the hope that the team would see more of the same from Thompson during the second half of the season.
As Cozens specifically noted, “When he has that confidence, he’s just making guys look silly out there. Those two goals were pretty hard shots. That’s the Tage we all know and love, and hopefully, we see a lot more of that the second half of the year.”
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After the Senators fell behind, they tried to turn it on in the third period. However, they couldn’t overcome the Sabres’ lead. Despite a late rally, Buffalo was able to hold on for the win.
Item One: Thompson Scores Two Goals But Might Be Injured
Tage Thompson played a key role in the Sabres’ win by scoring two goals, including one on the power play. However, during the game, he suffered an undisclosed injury and couldn’t finish. Today, Thompson underwent an MRI. Right now, it’s uncertain whether he will be available for the game against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.
Thompson is not officially ruled out, but his status is iffy. If he can’t go, his potential absence could impact the team’s offense. His first-period goals played a huge role in the Sabres’ win against the Senators. He’s an offensive leader on this team and has put up 14 goals and added 13 assists (for 27 points) in 32 games this season. He’d be tough to replace.
Item Two: Luukkonen Is Now on Three-Game Winning Streak
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen also was instrumental in the Sabres’ win by making 25 saves on 28 shots, the 24-year-old goalie’s third straight win. Although Claude Giroux was able to score two goals during the third period, Luukkonen shut the door, and the Sabres were able to hang on to their lead.
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Luukkonen’s game has been up and down throughout the season. He even had a stretch of six games where his record tanked and he didn’t win in six games (0-5-1). However, over his most recent three-game stretch, he’s won them all. With the win on Thursday, he now has a 9-8-2 record with a…
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