After a slow start the season, the Sabres needed a spark. They got one from center Tage Thompson on Saturday night. The 26-year-old center had a goal and an assist sparking a 4-2 to win in Chicago. It is the kind of play that Buffalo will need if they hope to turn around the slow start and begin to compete.
His goal came in the first period off an assist from JJ Peterka which put the Sabres up 1-0 to kick off the evening. Thompson returned the favor for Peterka. He found the young player with under two minutes in the second period for the go ahead and game-deciding goal.
Currently Thompson is on a four-point game streak which includes three games on road ice
Buffalo currently stands at 2-4-1 and is in seventh place in the Atlantic Division. If they want to push and move up the standings, they still have time this early in the season. But the scoring must come from a player such as Thompson.
Only he, Peterka and Alex Tuch have more than five points on the year. Tuch has continued to prove himself as a vital goal scorer and the 1-2 punch of him and Thompson are of the most important pieces to the Sabres starting lineup. Tuch himself added an assist in the victory.
“Halfway through (the second period), I think one of the TV timeouts, we reset and just made a conscious effort to keep it below their goal line. Especially when we’re climbing up the half wall, if you have nothing, turn it back, Thompson told reporters after the game against the Blackhawks.
He currently has 21 shots on goal for the year. He however, like the whole team has yet to have a power play goal. They are currently 0 for 21 in power play attempts. However, the continued pressure from Thompson, Tuch and Peterka may show things are changing and that may lead to their first goal a man up.
Two years ago, he had his best season of his career with 94 points points and a plus minus ice time of plus-4. He may have stumbled last year but is worth noting through seven games this year, the center has a plus-2 ice time in the first part of the season.
The team looks to continue to stay on track with a game against the Dallas Stars in Buffalo. It marks the start of four straight home games at Key Bank Center.