Tage Thompson scored three goals and added two assists as the Buffalo Sabres held off the Anaheim Ducks 7-6 on Thursday at Honda Center. Thompson finished with five points. Peyton Krebs added three assists to help Buffalo improve to 6-4-3.
The Sabres built a 5-3 lead with a late-second-period flurry, then watched Anaheim score three times in the third. Cutter Gauthier led the Ducks with two goals, and Leo Carlsson finished with three assists in the loss that dropped Anaheim to 5-7-1.
Takeaways From Sabres’ Win Over Ducks
Thompson took over in the second period
Buffalo trailed 3-2 before Thompson scored twice in 15 seconds late in the second period, giving the Sabres a 5-3 lead. Both goals came on wrist shots, with Krebs assisting on each.
Anaheim’s third-period push fell just short
Down 7-3, the Ducks scored three times in the final 2:08, getting goals from Gauthier, Tristan Luneau and Beckett Sennecke. Sennecke’s unassisted goal with 31 seconds left pulled Anaheim within one, but Buffalo closed it out.
Special teams swung in Buffalo’s favor
The Sabres converted two of three power-play chances (66.7%), while the Ducks scored on three of four (75%). Anaheim out-shot Buffalo 35-31 and won 59.7% of faceoffs, but Buffalo’s goals came at crucial moments.
Player Of The Game: Tage Thompson
Thompson finished with three goals and two assists. He scored in the first period to tie the game 3-3, then added back-to-back goals in the second period for a 5-3 lead before setting up Jack Quinn early in the third.
Sabres Vs Ducks By The Numbers
- Goals: Combined 13 goals (Buffalo 7, Anaheim 6)
- Shots: Anaheim 35, Buffalo 31
- Goaltending: Colten Ellis (Buffalo) 29 saves on 35 shots (.829); Ville Husso (Anaheim) 24 saves on 31 shots (.774)
- Giveaways: Anaheim 21, Buffalo 13
- Power play: Buffalo 2 for 3 (66.7%), Anaheim 3 for 4 (75%)
What’s Next
Buffalo (6-4-3) leads the series 1-0. Anaheim (5-7-1) sits in last place in the Pacific Division. The Sabres continue their road trip, while the Ducks host their next opponent.
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