The Buffalo Sabres were 1-4-1 after losses to Pittsburgh and Columbus on back-to-back nights last week, but have righted the ship with three straight victories over Chicago, Dallas, and a 5-3 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday. While head coach Lindy Ruff abandoning the goalie rotation in favor of starting Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen three straight has been a factor, the Sabres offense has scored 13 goals in the three victories, including four goals by Tage Thompson.
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Thompson, who leads the Sabres and is tied for second in the NHL with seven goals, had a pair of goals in the win over Detroit, appears to have recaptured the scoring touch that eluded him last season when he missed 11 games with a hand injury and fell from a career-high 47 goals in 2023 to 29.
“Every team has that line that they go to, and it’s such a comfort to put that line out the way they’re playing,” Ruff said. “When you get the puck on Tage’s stick, he’s shooting it, and he’s a tough guy to defend because if you play the shot, he can beat you on a one-on-one play.”
Buffalo also ended their 0 for 22 scoreless skid on the power play, as Thompson set up Jason Zucker for his first goal of the season, and Rasmus Dahlin added three assists. The Sabres will look to get over .500 for the first time this season when they take on the Atlantic Division-leading Florida Panthers on Monday night.
Related: Sabres Slow Start Due To Slumping Special Teams
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