(WGR Sports Radio 550) - Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson had a goal and an assist to help lead Team USA to a 6-2 win in their Semifinal Round matchup with Slovakia on Friday at the Winter Olympics.
Thompson was having a great game for the U.S., but missed the third period due to a lower-body injury. It was reported during the third period that Thompson was being held out of game action due to "precautionary reasons", which United States coach Mike Sullivan (New York Rangers) confirmed after the game with reporters.
"We held him out for a lower-body injury, so we'll see how he recovers. But I would anticipate him being ready for [Sunday]," said Sullivan after Friday's win.
Thompson does have a day in-between the Gold Medal Game on Sunday against Canada.
About midway through the United States' overtime win in the Quarterfinal Round against Sweden, Sullivan put Jack Hughes (New Jersey Devils) on Thompson’s line joining Dylan Larkin (Detroit Red Wings). That line instantly became Team USA’s best line until Thompson left 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 (Minnesota Wild). 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 first period, Thompson came from the bench, caused another turnover, dropped it back to Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets) and he sent in Larkin alone on a perfect stretch pass for the goal.
Before the period ended, former Sabres center Jack Eichel (Vegas Golden Knights) 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, Thompson has three goals and an assist for four points.
Quinn Hughes (Wild) also had an assist, giving him an assist on all five of Team USA’s games. Hughes has seven overall points (1+6) 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.
Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa Senators) closed out the scoring in the third period.
Slovakian star forward Juraj Slafkovky (Montreal Canadiens) scored again for Slovakia. In five games, he has four goals and four assists for eight points, which is fourth in tournament scoring.
U.S. goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets) still leads all goalies in the tournament, going 4-0-0 with a 1.23 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage.
Team Canada had quite a scare in its Semifinal Round, falling behind at one point to Finland, 2-0.
In the second period, former Sabres forward Sam Reinhart (Florida Panthers) had been sitting on the bench as the extra forward, but came out for a power play and set up in front of Juuse Saros (Nashville Predators) and tipped home a Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche) shot.
With 9:26 left in regulation, Shea Theodore (Golden Knights) blasted a screen shot from the left point that tied the game at 2-2.
Then with 2:35 left in regulation time, Niko Mikkola (Panthers) took a high sticking penalty to put Canada on the power play. With two seconds left on the man advantage and 35.2 seconds to go in regulation, Nate MacKinnon (Avalanche) netted the game-winner.
Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) didn’t play because of a right leg injury. That meant Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) took over as captain for the Canadians.
McDavid had two assists, adding to his incredible point production in five games, which now stands at two goals and 11 assists for 13 points. That breaks the all-time scoring record for the Olympics in which NHL players take part in.
Crosby has not been ruled out of Sunday’s Gold Medal Game just yet, and McDavid says he was just keeping the "C" warm for him.
Young Canadian superstar Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks) 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 against Finland.
Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues) is 4-0-0 in the tournament with a 1.74 goals-against average and a .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.
Meanwhile, at Sabres practice on Friday, head coach Lindy Ruff says he’s still waiting to hear from doctors about winger Zach Benson.
Ruff added that captain 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.
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