Tage Thompson put on a show Thursday night in Buffalo, notching a hat trick to power the surging Sabres past the Montreal Canadiens, 5-3, at KeyBank Center. The 6-foot-6 forward was simply unstoppable, using every inch of his frame and every bit of his skill to dismantle a Canadiens team that’s suddenly reeling in the Atlantic Division.
For Montreal, this marks their second straight divisional setback in less than a week-first a 4-0 shutout loss to Detroit, and now this. Both games featured rookie netminder Jacob Fowler between the pipes, and while he can’t be faulted for the lack of scoring support against the Red Wings, Thursday’s outing was a tougher pill to swallow. Fowler surrendered four goals on 26 shots, and though he battled, there was little he or his teammates could do to slow down Thompson once he got rolling.
It actually started well enough for the Habs. Cole Caufield opened the scoring with a gritty effort, burying his own rebound to snap a four-game goal drought. It was a much-needed moment for Caufield, who’s been searching for consistency as the season wears on.
But the Sabres didn’t let that early momentum last long. They answered with two quick power-play goals that flipped the script.
Thompson struck first, unleashing a laser that beat Fowler clean. Then it was Josh Doan’s turn, going top shelf to give Buffalo the lead-and they never looked back.
From there, it was all about Thompson. He was a force every time he touched the puck, using his size to create space and his hands to finish plays with precision.
This wasn’t just a hat trick-it was a statement. When Thompson is playing like this, the Sabres are a different animal.
He’s the kind of player who can tilt the ice, and on Thursday, the Canadiens had no answer.
Montreal now finds itself at a crossroads. Two tough losses within the division aren’t just missed points-they’re missed opportunities to keep pace in a tightly packed Atlantic. The Canadiens have shown flashes this season, but consistency remains elusive, especially against teams that can push the pace and capitalize on special teams.
As for the Sabres, they’re heating up at the right time. With Thompson leading the charge and the power play clicking, Buffalo is starting to look like a team that could make some noise down the stretch. If they can keep this momentum going, they’ll be a tough out for anyone in the East.