Buffalo, N.Y. - For Buffalo Sabres fans and Team USA supporters alike, Friday's Winter Olympics action brought a mixed bag of emotions centered around star player Tage Thompson.
Let's start with the highlights. Thompson was instrumental in Team USA's early dominance against Slovakia in the men's hockey semifinals. He set up Dylan Larkin for the first goal and then found the back of the net himself, showcasing his offensive prowess and helping the team to a commanding lead.
However, the excitement was tempered by concern when Thompson suffered an injury in the second period. He was sidelined for the rest of the game as a precaution, and details about the injury remain scarce. He was notably absent from the bench when the teams hit the ice for the third period.
Despite this setback, initial reports suggest the injury might not be severe. NHL insider Elliotte Friedman shared that Team USA coach Mike Sullivan is optimistic about Thompson's chances of suiting up for the gold medal showdown on Sunday.
With a decisive 6-2 victory, Team USA is set to face off against Canada for the gold medal at 8:10 a.m. on Sunday. Fans can catch all the action on NBC and Channel 2.
Thompson's Olympic journey so far includes three goals and an assist, and his contributions have been vital to Team USA's success. As the anticipation builds for the final, all eyes will be on Thompson and his potential return to the ice.