Sabres wrap: Tage Thompson's hat trick helps Buffalo win fourth in a row
The Sabres won four games in a row for the second time this season – something they weren't able to accomplish in 2023-24 – and they are 12-2 in their last 14 games at KeyBank Center.
Tage Thompson collected the puck while he was several feet behind Boston Bruins defenseman Nikita Zadorov.
Thompson stickhandled toward the net and his backhand shot sent the puck into the crossbar, causing it to ricocheted past goalie Joonas Korpisalo for the Buffalo Sabres' fifth goal Sunday in KeyBank Center.
Thompson wasn't done, either. He completed the hat trick with an empty-netter, his 43rd goal this season, as the Sabres pulled away for a 6-3 win.
Buffalo Sabres center JJ Peterka (77) is stopped by Boston Bruins goaltender Joonas Korpisalo (70) during the first period at the KeyBank Center on Sunday, April 6, 2025. Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
The Sabres won four games in a row for the second time this season – something they weren't able to accomplish in 2023-24 – and they are 12-2 in their last 14 games at KeyBank Center. They have also won 10 of their last 14 games and seven of their last eight to improve to 34-36-6 this season. The come-from-behind win helped them stave off elimination, though they are nine points behind Montreal for the second wild-card spot with six games remaining.
Jason Zucker broke a 3-3 tie with his goal 1:59 into the third period, and Thompson's second goal was the backhand breakaway with 14:09 left in regulation. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 18 saves while starting for only the third time in 10 games.
Thompson, Alex Tuch and Rasmus Dahlin scored a goal apiece in the second period to help the Sabres rally from a 2-0 deficit. They were tied 3-3 at the second period, with Elias Lindholm, Morgan Geekie and Casey Mittelstadt scoring for Boston. The Bruins (31-38-9) are 1-10-1 in their last 12 games.
Sabres forwards Josh Norris (middle-body injury) and Jordan Greenway (lower body) remained out of the lineup. Defenseman Henri Jokiharju returned to Buffalo for the first time since he was traded to Boston on March 7.
First period
• Bruins star winger David Pastrnak faked a shot from the left circle to force Luukkonen out of position and passed to the right circle where Lindholm redirected the puck in for a 1-0 lead and his 600th career point.• JJ Peterka hit the post before the Sabres' fourth line, centered by rookie Noah Ostlund, pinned Boston in its zone by creating pressure on the forecheck. Ostlund drew a hooking penalty at 6:03 to give Buffalo a power play.
• Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson cleared the puck from his crease after a 2-on-1 shot got by Luukkonen. The odd-man rush began with Jack Quinn's turnover in the offensive zone.
• Peterka turned the puck over while trying to exit the zone, and Pastrnak stickhandled down the right wing before he passed to Geekie, who shot the puck off the post and in to make it 2-0 with 5:33 left in the first period.
• Jokiharju slashed Zach Benson to give the Sabres a power play with 4:48 remaining. Peterka tried to jam the puck past Bruins goalie Joonas Korpisalo, who used his glove to make the save.
• The Sabres outshot the Bruins 11-8 in the first period but trailed 2-0.
Second period
• Bowen Byram created a rebound with a shot from the left point and Benson whacked at the puck to jar it loose, allowing Thompson to skate in and score his 41st goal this season. It cut their deficit to 2-1 with 12:28 left in the second period.• Tuch's 33rd goal this season tied it 2-2 with 9:13 left in the second period. He deflected Dahlin's shot while screening Korpisalo.
• Peterka's holding penalty gave the Bruins a power play 15:48 into the second period, and Mittelstadt needed less than a minute to take advantage. The former Sabres center scored off a rebound to give Boston a 3-2 lead with 3:22 left in the second period.
• Dahlin dragged the puck across the slot and scored with a blocker-side shot to tie it 3-3 with 1:29 left in the second period. It was Dahlin's 15th goal this season and second point of the game.
• The Sabres entered the game with a 6-8-3 record when tied at the second intermission.
Third period
• Zucker gave the Sabres a 4-3 lead with his shot that hit Korpisalo and soared into the net 1:59 into the third period. Zucker has 21 goals and 51 points this season.Lineup
Sabres coach Lindy Ruff used the same lineup at the start of the game, aside from Luukkonen drawing in for James Reimer:Zach Benson - Jiri Kulich - Tage Thompson
JJ Peterka - Ryan McLeod - Jack Quinn
Jason Zucker - Peyton Krebs - Alex Tuch
Beck Malenstyn - Noah Ostlund - Sam Lafferty
Mattias Samuelsson - Rasmus Dahlin
Owen Power - Jacob Bernard-Docker
Bowen Byram - Connor Clifton