Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Tage Thompson recorded a point on all five Sabres goals, which included three goals in Buffalo's 5-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Thursday night at KeyBank Center.
Cole Caufield wasted little time giving Montreal a 1-0 lead thanks to a second-chance opportunity from the left wing. The young forward followed his own shot and scored on the rebound for his 22nd goal of the season.
The game's opening goal came just over three minutes into the game.
However, the Sabres had an immediate answer thanks to a power play opportunity less than a minute later.
Thompson used a Canadiens defenseman as a screen to beat goalie Jacob Fowler with a low wrist shot to tie the score at 1-1.
Noah Ostlund and Jason Zucker were credited with the assists on Buffalo's first goal of the game.
The two teams traded power play goals later in the period, ending the first tied 2-2.
Josh Doan scored his 15th goal of the season on the power play just past the midway point of the opening period.
Thompson and Ostlund each picked up their second points of the game thanks to the assists on the goal.
The score came with Kaiden Guhle in the penalty box for interference.
Ivan Demidov tied the game with a 5-on-3 power play chance several minutes later. Lane Hutson made the cross-ice pass that Demidov capitalized on for his 11th goal of the year.
An early power play chance for the Canadiens in the second period helped the visitors take their second lead of the night.
Nick Suzuki was able to score on a second-chance opportunity after Colten Ellis was unable to handle the initial shot. Hutson's shot helped set up the chance.
Hutson and Caufield were credited with the assists.
Alex Tuch provided the answer later in the second period after Rasmus Dahlin carried the puck through the neutral zone. His pass to Thompson at the blue line allowed the team to gain the offensive zone, and the Sabres forward found his linemate with space.
Tuch recorded his 16th goal of the year and evened the score, 3-3, midway through the second.
Thompson then increased his point total to four in the game with his second goal of the night just over five minutes into the third period.
Doan picked up his second assist of the game on the give-and-go that put Buffalo up a goal, 4-3.
The goal was also Thompson's 200th career tally in the NHL.
Thompson then added an empty-net goal with under two minutes remaining in the game to help solidify Buffalo's 5-3 victory.
His third goal of the game moved him into fifth place in team history among hat-tricks.
Ellis made 21 saves in Buffalo's thrilling victory.
A sold out crowd saw the Sabres move two points closer to Montreal in the Atlantic Division standings, while securing the No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference all to themselves.
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SCORING RECAP
First Period:
BUF: 4:05 - Tage Thompson (23) PPG (Noah Ostlund, Jason Zucker); 10:30 - Josh Doan (15) PPG (Tage Thompson, Noah Ostlund)
MTL: 3:11 - Cole Caufield (22) (Noah Dobson); 14:20 - Ivan Demidov (11) PPG (Lane Huston, Nick Suzuki)
Second Period:
BUF: 8:55 - Alex Tuch (16) (Tage Thompson, Rasmus Dahlin)
MTL: 3:05 - Nick Suzuki (15) PPG (Lane Hutson, Cole Caufield)
Third Period:
BUF: 5:12 - Tage Thompson (24) (Josh Doan); 18:20 - Tage Thompson (25) ENG (Zach Benson)
MTL: NONE
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Blue Star Home Services Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Tage Thompson - BUF
2.) Josh Doan - BUF
3.) Alex Tuch - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres wrap up their five-game homestand on Saturday afternoon against the Minnesota Wild. The puck drops from KeyBank Center at 12:30 p.m. on The Bet 1520. Pregame coverage begins at 11:30 a.m. with Brian Koziol.