Tage Thompson scores third goal of tourney, leaves Team USA semifinal win with injury
During the third period, NBC showed a replay in which Slovakia defenseman Patrik Koch cross-checked Thompson in the back on a USA power play. Koch, a former Arizona Coyotes farmhand, plays in the Czech pro league.
Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson scored his third goal of the Olympic men's hockey tournament Friday but did not play in the third period of Team USA's 6-2 semifinal victory over Slovakia as he was held out due to a foot injury.
A quick shot on the NBC telecast showed Thompson walking gingerly in a hallway adjacent to the locker room at Milano Santagiulia Arena. The network said USA Hockey reported Thompson was being held out of the final 20 minutes for precautionary reasons.
Following the game, Team USA coach Mike Sullivan said Thompson should be available for Sunday's gold medal game against Canada and confirmed his power-play specialist did not play as a precaution.
Later in the third period, NBC showed a replay in which Slovakia defenseman Patrik Koch cross-checked Thompson in the back on a USA power play. Koch, a former Arizona Coyotes farmhand, plays in the Czech pro league. But that play was apparently not connected with Thompson's absence in the third period.
United States' Tage Thompson (72) is congratulated after scoring against Slovakia during the first period of a
men's ice hockey semifinal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster
Thompson tallied his goal with 40 seconds left in the first period, converting a pass from former Sabres teammate Jack Eichel and scoring on a one-timer from deep in the left circle. It gave Team USA a 2-0 lead through 20 minutes. Thompson also assisted on a goal by Detroit's Dylan Larkin that opened the scoring at 4:19.
"Tage I think has been really dynamic for them," Sabres teammate Alex Tuch said earlier Friday after practice in LECOM Harborcenter. "He's really good on the power play. He's just playing that power forward role, getting some good hits, getting shots on net being dangerous every time he's on the ice and it's been good to see."
Thompson played 10:05 and had three shots on goal in the game. He has three goals and an assist in the tournament and has posted a plus-3 rating.
The Americans are slated to meet Canada on Sunday at 8:10 a.m. Eastern time. The Canadians overcame a 2-0 deficit and beat Finland, 3-2, on Nathan MacKinnon's power-play goal with 35 seconds left in regulation. It was the second straight game Canada had trailed in the third period, coming on the heels of its overtime win in the quarterfinals over Czechia.
Thompson's father, Brent, was given a temporary leave of absence by the AHL's Hershey Bears to attend the end of the Olympic tournament. Brent Thompson previously served as an assistant coach for the Anaheim Ducks.