Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR 550) - Tage Thompson led the Buffalo Sabres' offensive attack with six points, including a hat-trick to defeat the Detroit Red Wings, 8-3, on Monday night at KeyBank Center.
Thompson picked up right where he left off on Saturday with the game's first goal late in the opening period. Jeff Skinner made a cross-ice pass to Thompson to setup a one-time shot that beat goalie Alex Nedeljkovic.
Thompson's third goal in the last two games gave the Sabres a 1-0 lead with about four minutes left in the first.
Buffalo was credited with 14 shots on goal in the first period, and were able to kill off their lone penalty of the frame. The Red Wings had six shots, but could not beat Eric Comrie in the opening 20 minutes.
The Red Wings tied the game quickly to begin the second period, as defenseman Olli Maatta crept in from the point to fire a shot over the left shoulder of Comrie.
Jack Quinn answered back for the Sabres later in the period to give the team another one-goal lead, 2-1. Quinn's first goal of the season came on a one-time shot from a knee that hit the back crossbar. Tage Thompson and Kyle Okposo assisted on the score.
Minutes later, Jeff Skinner scored a milestone goal that extended Buffalo's lead to 3-1 late in the middle period. The forward scored his 300th career NHL goal thanks to a turnover in the offensive zone. Thompson stole the puck, and made the pass that created the opportunity for Skinner.
Thompson added to his point total with another nifty goal that ballooned Buffalo's lead to 4-1 late in the second stanza. His second goal of the game came on the power play, thanks to a delay of game penalty by Red Wings defenseman Ben Chiarot.
The Red Wings trimmed their deficit to 4-2 before the end of the period. David Perron was able to score his fifth goal of the year to bring Detroit back within a pair after 40 minutes.
Dylan Larkin brought Detroit back within a goal with a shorthanded goal early in the third period. Larkin's fifth goal of the season was unassisted to trim Buffalo's lead to 4-3.
A fortunate bounce on the power play resulted in a Rasmus Dahlin goal that extended Buffalo's lead back out to two. Thompson added his fifth point of the night, while Casey Mittelstadt was credited with an assist as well. Dahlin's sixth goal of the year gave Buffalo a 5-3 lead.
Dylan Cozens extended the Sabres lead back to three with his fourth goal of the season. Owen Power made the outlet pass that helped Cozens skate through the neutral zone and setup for a wrist shot at the faceoff dot.
Thompson finished off his hat-trick with only three minutes remaining in the game. He made a fifty move on a Red Wings defender and Nedeljkovic for his third goal and extend Buffalo's lead to 7-3.
It was also a historic offensive night that put Thompson in the same company of several of the franchise's greatest offensive players.
Rasmus Asplund closed out the scoring with his first goal of the season for the five-goal margin. It also capped a 17-shot third period for Buffalo.
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GAME RECAP
Scoring Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 16:52 - Tage Thompson (4) (Jeff Skinner, Casey Fitzgerald)
DET: NONE
Second Period:
BUF: 5:22 - Jack Quinn (1) (Tage Thompson, Kyle Okposo); 14:26 - Jeff Skinner (2) (Tage Thompson); 18:30 - Tage Thompson (5) PPG (Alex Tuch, Kyle Okposo)
DET: 19:03 - David Perron (5) (Joe Veleno, Moritz Seider)
Third Period:
BUF: 12:53 - Rasmus Dahlin (6) PPG (Casey Mittelstadt, Tage Thompson); 14:47 - Dylan Cozens (4) (Owen Power, JJ Peterka); 15:58 - Tage Thompson (6) (Jeff Skinner, Rasmus Dahlin); 19:21 - Rasmus Asplund (1) (Peyton Krebs, Zemgus Girgensons)
DET: 4:19 - Dylan Larkin (5) SHG (Unassisted)
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Penalty Summary:
First Period:
BUF: 17:55 - Rasmus Dahlin (Interference - 2 min.)
DET: 17:09 - David Perron (Hooking - 2 min.)
Second Period:
BUF: NONE
DET: 16:01 - Gustav Lindstrom (Holding - 2 min.); 17:00 - Ben Chiarot (Delay of game - 2 min.)
Third Period:
BUF: 9:51 - Casey Fitzgerald (Cross-checking - 2 min.)
DET: 2:38 - Alex Nedeljkovic (Interference - 2 min.); 9:51 - Dylan Larkin (Unsportsmanlike conduct - 2 min.); 11:06 - Joe Veleno (Holding - 2 min.)
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Losi and Gangi Three Stars of the Game:
1.) Tage Thompson - BUF
2.) Jeff Skinner - BUF
3.) Jack Quinn - BUF
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What's next:
The Sabres will close out their four-game homestand by welcoming the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 7:30 p.m. ET faceoff on Wednesday night.
The only place to hear Dan Dunleavy and Rob Ray is the flagship home of the Sabres Radio Network - WGR Sports Radio 550. Pregame coverage with Mike Schopp and the Bulldog starts at 6:30 p.m. ET.
