In Columbus, the Blue Jackets were out-everythinged on Wednesday night.
The Buffalo Sabres scored six goals in the first period, count ’em, six goals.
Tage Thompson hit for four of those goals and added a fifth in the middle frame as the Sabres tagged the Blue Jackets with a 9-4 decision.
“It’s one of those nights things are going in for you and a lot of good linemates set me up. So, it was a fun game,” Thompson said. “It’s definitely a rewarding feeling. You’ve spent a lot of years working to get to this point, and to be rewarded for it is a pretty good feeling and it just leaves you hungrier.
“You want more from yourself. You know you’re capable of it now, and I think it’s just something I’m excited for, to get a night like this, and you just want to continue to grow and continue to test yourself.”
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 20 saves in the Sabres win.
Buffalo improved to 12-13-1.
“He’s (Thompson) a goal scorer and he did his thing tonight,” Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Dahlin said. “It’s like, ‘Oh, great play, great play.’ It’s a great play every time he’s on the ice.”
Buffalo’s Dylan Cozens and Rasmus Dahlin also scored in the first period along with Thompson for the 6-0 lad after 20 minutes.
Thompson collected five points in a stretch of less than six minutes in the fist period.
Columbus’ Patrik Laine and Gustav Nyquist each for two goals in the loss. They each scored to start the second and third periods.
“We [stunk] pretty much the whole game, and you can definitely see that in the scoreboard,” Laine said. “It’s just embarrassing how we played tonight.”
The Blue Jackets dropped to 8-15-2.
“In 26 years pro, I’ve never seen that,” Blue Jackets coach Brad Larsen said of Thompson’s feat. “We didn’t have an answer for that one line. Tage Thompson just tore us up tonight.”
After the Blue Jackets pulled to within 6-2, Thompson scored to make it 7-2 in the second period.
“That was an amazing performance by Tage, and really, the whole group set the table,” Buffalo coach Don Granato said. “I thought the energy, the collective effort, focus to start was really good and enabled that to happen.”
Peyton Krebs and Alex Tuch then added two more strikes in the middle frame for a9-2 advantage headed to the third.
Use code PHN20 for the holidays
Joonas Korpisalo got the start for Columbus, he made just two saves on five shots in the first period before getting the hook.
Elvis Merzlikins made 15 saves, yielding six goals in a mop up role.
You must be logged in to post a comment.