(WGR 550) - Sabres center Tage Thompson had a goal and an assist to lead Team USA to a 2-0 first period lead Friday in their Semifinals 6-2 win over Slovakia.
Thompson was having a great game, but missed the third period due to a lower-body injury. United States coach Mike Sullivan was quoted after the game by numerous reporters in Italy,
"We held him out for precautionary reasons more than anything. We held him out for a lower body injury. So we'll see how he recovers, but I would anticipate him being ready for game time."
Thompson does have a day in between the Gold Medal game on Sunday against Canada.
About midway through the United States quarterfinals overtime win against Sweden, Sullivan put Jack Hughes on Thompson’s line joining Dylan Larkin. That line instantly became Team USA’s best line until Thompson left Saturday after the second period.
On their first shift of the game, that line got in on Slovakia and had a ferocious forecheck causing a lot of pressure on goalie Samuel Hlavaj. Thompson caused a few turnovers on the shift and brought a puck to the net passing to Hughes and just missing a goal.
At 4:19 of the period, Thompson came from the bench, caused another turnover, dropped it back to Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets and he sent in Larkin alone on a perfect stretch pass for the goal.
Before the period ended, former Sabre Jack Eichel put a perfect pass in Thompson’s wheelhouse on a power play. Thompson was in his office, the left circle and ripped a one-timer for his third goal of the tournament. In five games he has four points. Quinn Hughes also had an assist giving him an assist on all five of Team USA’s games. Hughes has seven overall points to lead the team.
The Americans stretched the lead to 5-1 before the second period ended on two goals by Jack Hughes and one from Eichel.
Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk closed out the scoring in the third. Montreal Canadiens youngster Juraj Slafkovky scored again for Slovakia. In five games he has four goals and four assists for eight points which is fourth in tournament scoring.
Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck still leads all goalies going 4-0-0 with a 1.23 goals against and .947 save percentage.
Team Canada had quite a scare in its semifinal game falling behind to Finland 2-0. In the second period Sam Reinhart of the Florida Panthers had been sitting on the bench as the extra forward, but he came out for a power play and set up in front of Juuse Saros and tipped home Cale Makar’s shot.
With 9:26 left in regulation, Shea Theodore blasted a screen shot from the left point that tied the game at two. With 2:35 left in regulation time, Niko Mikkola took a high sticking penalty and with two seconds left on the man advantage and 35.2 seconds left in regulation, Nate MacKinnon netted the game winner.
Sidney Crosby didn’t play because of a leg injury. Connor McDavid took over as captain. He had two assists and his two goals and 11 assists for 13 points in five games breaks the all-time scoring record for Olympics attended by NHL players. Crosby has not been ruled out of Sunday’s Gold Medal game and McDavid said he was just keeping the “C” warm for him.
San Jose Sharks superstar Macklin Celebrini is second in tournament scoring with five goals and five assists for 10 points in five games. The 19-year-old played an amazing 25:53 in the game.
St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington is 4-0-0 in the tourney with a 1.74 goals against and .914 save percentage. As of now it looks like Team USA has a huge advantage in net, but Binnington has a history of being lights out in the biggest games.
At Sabres practice on Friday Lindy Ruff said he’s still waiting to hear from doctors about Zach Benson. The head coach added that Rasmus Dahlin, who was eliminated with Team Sweden on Wednesday will arrive in Buffalo either Sunday or Monday for practice.
The team will have Saturday off.