theathleticuk
The Buffalo Sabres' matchup against the Anaheim Ducks began disastrously, with the team conceding two power-play goals within the first 2:56 of play. Olen Zellweger's holding penalty just 35 seconds in gave Anaheim an early advantage, and Zach Benson's tripping call a minute later created a five-on-three situation that the Ducks capitalized on twice.
However, the Sabres remained unfazed, as they have grown accustomed to overcoming multi-goal deficits this season. Entering the game, Buffalo had already won four times after trailing by two or more goals, while Anaheim had squandered multi-goal leads in four losses. Those trends persisted on Thursday, with the Sabres roaring back with six consecutive goals to secure a 7-6 victory, highlighted by Tage Thompson's natural hat trick.
Buffalo desperately needed such an offensive explosion. Last season, the team ranked sixth in the NHL in shooting percentage, but they entered this game 24th, struggling to find the back of the net consistently through the first 12 games. That changed against the Ducks, starting with a fluky goal from Tyson Kozak, whose one-timer from the blue line found its way through traffic.
Thompson then took over, showcasing his speed and power. His first goal came on a burst to the edge before driving to the net; his second was a quick release off a faceoff win by Peyton Krebs; and his third utilized his speed again to beat the Ducks' defense and complete the hat trick. Thompson needed only four shots to score his three goals, largely due to his ability to overpower defenders and carry the puck into dangerous areas.
"He was due for one of those games," Krebs told reporters afterward. Thompson entered the match with 10 points in 12 games, not exactly slumping, but like the team, he had been waiting for a breakout. "Some games you get chances and they don't go in for you," Thompson said. "Sometimes you don't get any chances and somehow you find one. Some games you get a lot of chances and they all go in for you. This was one of those games."
When Thompson skates and converts like that, the Sabres become a formidable opponent and a much more entertaining team to watch. However, coach Lindy Ruff was still somewhat perplexed by how his team nearly let the lead slip away. The Ducks pulled their goalie for the final six minutes, and Buffalo allowed two late goals while failing to score an empty-netter, making the final minute uncomfortably close. Still, the Sabres will take the win, improving to 6-4-3 after two straight victories in California. They conclude their road trip on Saturday afternoon against the Los Angeles Kings.
Key Analysis
Konsta Helenius will miss the remainder of the road trip after absorbing a hard hit from Jacob Trouba against the Sharks on Tuesday. He has an upper-body injury and has returned to Buffalo. Jiri Kulich is also unavailable, still in concussion protocol, which opened a spot for a top-line center between Benson and Thompson. Krebs seized the opportunity, delivering three assists and winning eight of 15 faceoffs. During his five-on-five minutes, the Sabres held a 10-2 advantage in scoring chances. Krebs and Thompson have shown strong chemistry, and keeping Thompson on the wing continues to pay dividends.
Benson's early tripping penalty was ill-timed, but he bounced back with another outstanding performance. He scored for the second consecutive game, this time on a breakaway with the goalie in net, and added two assists. According to Natural Stat Trick, he posted an 83-percent on-ice expected goal share at five-on-five. Benson has been one of Buffalo's most impactful forwards early in the season, even without gaudy goal totals.
It's encouraging to see Noah Ostlund driving play independently of Benson. The 22-year-old center scored on the power play Thursday and could have had more points, finishing with six individual scoring chances and three high-danger chances. The lineup is more balanced when Benson can play away from Ostlund and Jack Quinn, spreading out their impact.
Colten Ellis experienced a strange night. He allowed two early goals on which he had little chance, then made sensational saves through the first two periods as his team built a lead. However, in the final minutes, he had some shaky moments that helped the Ducks climb back. He finished with 34 saves, including seven of 10 on high-danger shots. Starting his second straight game, Ellis did enough to earn the win and another look in the rotation, but after such a hectic night, it might make sense to turn to Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen on Saturday afternoon in Los Angeles.
Sam Carrick was activated off injured reserve and returned to the lineup. He played less than 10 minutes but delivered a no-nonsense game, assisting on Kozak's early goal and not being on the ice for a single scoring chance against, per Natural Stat Trick. The Sabres haven't seen the Carrick from the end of last season yet in the first 12 games, but they could use him. Perhaps this was a step toward him finding his game again.
Originally reported by theathleticuk.