Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) – Tage Thompson was snubbed from the NHL All-Star Game last season when Rasmus Dahlin was selected as the Buffalo Sabres' representative.
This season, Thompson was announced to the Atlantic Division team on Thursday, marking the first All-Star nod of his NHL career.
Thompson is currently third in league scoring with 55 points, while his 30 goals is just three behind the NHL's league leader Connor McDavid, who was also selected for the Pacific Division team representing the Edmonton Oilers.
With 30 goals in just 36 games, Thompson is on pace for 68 goals and 125 points in 82 games this season. Only Alex Mogilny scored more goals, netting 76 during the 1992-93 season.
Thompson’s 125 points would be third all-time behind Pat LaFontaine’s 148 points and Mogilny’s 127 points.
The 25-year-old set a team record and tied a NHL record by scoring four goals in one period back on Dec. 7 against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
So far just shy of the halfway point of the season, Thompson has two six-point games, tying LaFontaine’s team record. He tied Dave Andreychuk’s record for most goals in a game with five, and he has three hat-tricks already this season.
The Sabres' record for the most hat-tricks in a season is seven held by both Mogilny and Rick Martin.
Former Sabres goalie, now a member of the Boston Bruins, Linus Ullmark will also be making his first career All-Star appearance.
The fans will next vote for the final three players from each division team to make the roster, giving Dahlin and Alex Tuch a chance to make the All-Star roster.
The NHL's All-Star Weekend starts Feb. 3 in Sunrise, Florida.
