Tage Thompson’s California trip was the kind of week that forces the league to take notice.
The Sabres forward was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week on Monday for the stretch ending Sunday, Nov. 1 after piling up eight points, including five goals, in three games. Buffalo went 3-0-0 out west, and Thompson was right at the center of it.
The numbers jumped off the page immediately. His five goals and eight points both tied for the NHL lead during the week, and his season total climbed to 10 goals, which has him tied for sixth in the league. At that pace, he’s tracking toward 60 goals this season.
Thompson’s biggest statement came Thursday in Anaheim, where he recorded his 10th career hat trick. Since the 2021-22 season, only Auston Matthews has more with 11. In Sabres history, only Rick Martin with 21 and Gilbert Perreault with 18 have more.
He wasn’t done there. On Saturday in Los Angeles, Thompson added two more goals in Buffalo’s 3-2 win, including the late power-play winner.
“All goal scorers, a lot of times they can run a little hot, or they can get a cold stretch,” coach Lindy Ruff said postgame Saturday. “But usually when they come out of it, they’re scoring like seven or eight goals in four or five games.”
Thompson also fired 18 shots on goal over the week and now ranks second in the NHL with 63 shots this season.
“Felt like I’ve been pretty good all year just generating and getting looks,” Thompson said. “Some nights they don’t go in for you, and some nights they do, so just trying to stay even keeled, not waver mentally and just stick with the process. Keep finding looks, and they’ll go in.”
This is the sixth time Thompson has earned a Star of the Week honor in his career. His previous selections were 3rd Star of the Week on March 7, 2026, 1st Star of the Week on Jan. 17, 2026, 2nd Star of the Week on Feb. 1, 2025, 2nd Star of the Week on Dec. 17, 2022, and 2nd Star of the Week on Dec. 10, 2022.
In Other News...
Tage Thompson May Have Solved One Sabres Problem While Exposing Another
Moving Tage Thompson to the wing has given the Sabres a cleaner look in the offensive zone, and the early returns have been hard to ignore. Thompson has been driving Buffalos recent wins with a surge that has him leading the team in goals, while Zach Bensons presence alongside him has helped give that line a more balanced feel and more consistent puck movement.
The tradeoff, of course, is what Buffalo gives up down the middle to make it work. Thompson looks more comfortable on the wing, but the Sabres are still sorting through center depth and trying to keep the lineup from feeling thin in that spot, a reminder that one fix can create another problem just as quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Crease Could Change Fast With One Return Closing In
Alex Lyon is back on the ice with the Sabres and moving closer to clearance after an upper-body injury, a welcome development for a team that has been juggling its crease with a two-goalie rotation. Buffalo would like to get back to a three-goalie setup once Lyon is ready, which would give the staff more flexibility as it sorts through the early-season grind.
The goalie situation is only part of a busy injury picture around the roster. Jiri Kulich has returned from concussion protocol, while Conor Timmins and Justin Danforth have resumed practice, but Zach Bensons status remains uncertain and Konsta Helenius is now week-to-week with an upper-body injury. For a Sabres team trying to stabilize its lineup, Lyons return could come at just the right time, even if the next step is still waiting on final clearance. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres Are Finally Showing The Identity Fans Have Waited For
A road trip that started with questions ended with Buffalo looking a lot more like the team its fans have been waiting to see. The Sabres capped a three-game winning streak with a 3-2 win over the Kings at Crypto.com Arena, and the performance had the kind of ingredients that have been missing too often this season: timely scoring, a steadier power play and a goalie who made the necessary stops.
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen turned aside 27 shots for his fourth win, while Tage Thompson supplied two goals and continued to drive the offense when it mattered most. The bigger takeaway for Buffalo is not just the result, but the way it came together away from home, with the special teams showing real progress and the group starting to play with a clearer identity. [Read more 🡒]