Tage Thompson is struggling in his NHL postseason debut with the Buffalo Sabres after waiting so long to make it. Thompson was part of Buffalo losing Game 2 to Montreal to even things up in the second-round matchup.
The Sabres and Canadiens cross the border for the third meeting of what is shaping up to be a long series Sunday night at 7 p.m..
Thompson struggling contributed to the Sabres losing to the Canadiens and evening up that matchup at one game apiece with play shifting to Montreal on Sunday.
Making his NHL postseason debut, Thompson said it's not anyone's business if he's injured and took responsibility for a bafflingly rough performance.
“Trying to chase the game, try and force plays that aren’t there and just wasn’t executing,” Thompson said. “Everything I touched turned into disaster tonight, so tough one. Got to be better.”
Thompson was a point-a-game performer through the first seven games of the playoffs, and coach Lindy Ruff chalked up Game 2 to frustration. Ruff expects a lot of his players to be better, including Thompson.
Buffalo Sabres at Montreal Canadiens
When/Where to Watch: Game 3, Sunday, 7 p.m. EDT (ESPN)/(Radio WGR 550AM/107.7FM).
Series: Tied 1-1
The Canadiens got a pair of goals from winger Alex Newhook and one apiece from defensemen Mike Matheson and Alexandre Carrier on Friday night. To keep the momentum going back home at Bell Centre, they'll likely need more offense from two of their best players, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky, who have gone ice cold.
Caufield — who had a career-high 51 goals and 88 points during the regular season — has been held off the scoresheet the past five games dating to the first round against Tampa Bay. Slafkovsky has one point in the past eight games.
“All season but especially in playoffs, it doesn’t really matter who’s going to put the puck in as long as you win the game,” Slafkovsky said.
Sam Carrick could be back for Buffalo after missing the past 15 games going back to getting injured March 31. Carrick's return should help the Sabres in the faceoff circle, where they're winning just 43% of draws, the lowest rate of any team in the playoffs.
“Everything I touched turned into disaster tonight, so tough one. Got to be better.”
“Everything I touched turned into disaster tonight, so tough one. Got to be better.”
