The KeyBank Center was buzzing with nostalgia and excitement on Thursday night as the Buffalo Sabres capped off a memorable evening with a 5-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens. With the arena packed and the atmosphere charged by a celebration of the legendary 2005-06 Sabres squad, Buffalo’s current stars delivered a performance that paid homage to their predecessors—none more so than Tage Thompson, whose electrifying five-point night led the way.
Thompson was simply unstoppable. The Sabres forward notched a hat trick—his first of the season and ninth of his career—while adding two assists, reaching the significant milestone of 200 NHL career goals. His second tally of the night, coming at 5:12 into the third period, broke a 3-3 deadlock and proved to be the game-winner, sending the crowd into a frenzy. As hats rained down for his empty-netter with just 1:40 left, Thompson’s place in Sabres lore was further cemented.
“There’s nothing that beats winning,” Thompson said after the game, his joy matching the buzz in the arena. “This is the most fun I think I’ve had here my entire career. We’ve got something really good going, and it doesn’t feel fabricated. It feels real, and I think everyone in the room believes it as well.”
The night was already special before the puck dropped. The Sabres honored the 20th anniversary of their 2005-06 team, which reached the Eastern Conference finals, with a pregame ceremony, tribute videos, and the team donning retro “goat head” jerseys. The organization announced that Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek—both rookies on that storied team—will be inducted into the Sabres Hall of Fame later this season. Current coach Lindy Ruff, who helmed the bench during that magical run and again leads the team today, reflected on the reunion and the game’s echoes of the past. “Oh, it was awesome,” Ruff said. “First and foremost, said hello to all those guys and had some good laughs. And some of the memories and some of the games, and seeing some of those highlights, I thought our game tonight looked a lot like one of those ’05 games.”
The game itself was a back-and-forth affair, mirroring the drama and resilience that defined the 2005-06 squad. Montreal struck first, with Cole Caufield opening the scoring, but Buffalo’s power play roared to life. Both Thompson and Josh Doan scored with the man advantage in the first period, matching goals from Caufield and Ivan Demidov for the Canadiens to make it a 2-2 contest after twenty minutes. Doan, who recorded his second straight multi-point game, dazzled with a highlight-reel goal from a sharp angle, tucking the puck under Montreal goaltender Jacob Fowler’s right shoulder.
The second period saw the Canadiens briefly reclaim the lead thanks to Nick Suzuki, but the Sabres responded yet again. Thompson, relentless all night, set up Alex Tuch for the tying goal, with Rasmus Dahlin collecting the secondary assist. That helper was a milestone for Dahlin as well, tying him with Jason Pominville for eighth in franchise history at 304 assists—a fitting achievement on a night when Sabres history was front and center.
Montreal’s netminder Jacob Fowler faced steady pressure, stopping 22 shots, while at the other end, Colten Ellis turned aside 20 of 23 attempts. The Sabres’ power play, which accounted for two of their five goals, kept the Canadiens on their heels, and Buffalo’s penalty kill stood tall in key moments.
Buffalo’s resilience was tested throughout the night. The team twice erased deficits before finally pulling ahead for good on Thompson’s milestone marker. The drama wasn’t limited to the scoreboard—Jason Zucker, after being shaken up in a second-period collision, returned in the third and made a critical shot block with Ellis scrambling, drawing cheers from the fans and praise from teammates.
“We knew coming into this game it’s a big one,” Thompson said, emphasizing the playoff implications. “The East is so tight, so every divisional game means so much to us. I think we were just ready to go right from the start, and I think the intensity in our group right now is at an all-time high, which is good. So, we’ve just got to keep driving that, and I think that’s kind of what led to our consistency in the game.”
Noah Ostlund quietly had an excellent night as well, racking up two assists and helping drive the Sabres’ transition game. Josh Doan finished with a goal and an assist, continuing his hot streak, while Alex Tuch’s timely goal underscored Buffalo’s balanced attack. Rasmus Dahlin’s play at both ends of the ice was reminiscent of the franchise’s great blue-liners—a fact not lost on the fans or the Sabres’ alumni in attendance.
With the win, Buffalo improved to 26-16-4 on the season, good for 56 points, and held strong atop the Eastern Conference wild-card standings. The Sabres’ recent run—15 wins in their last 17 games—has them firmly in the playoff conversation, just three points behind Montreal, who sit third in the Atlantic Division but have played two more games. The two teams will meet twice more before the end of January, adding fuel to what’s shaping up to be a fierce divisional rivalry.
For Montreal, the loss was their third in the last four games, dropping their record to 26-15-7. Despite strong performances from Caufield, Suzuki, and Demidov, the Canadiens couldn’t hold off Buffalo’s late surge. Fowler’s efforts in goal kept the visitors in it, but the Sabres’ relentless attack proved too much down the stretch.
Thompson’s hat trick elevated him into the NHL’s top ten for goals this season, with 25, and marked his third career game with five or more points. His recent form has been nothing short of spectacular—28 points in his last 21 games, with at least one point in each of his last six contests. “That’s what every athlete lives for,” Thompson reflected. “We’re all competitors, we want to be the best all the time, and when the stakes get raised. I think everyone wants to be the guy that leads the team. I think that’s what makes you a good player. If you fold in those circumstances, maybe it’s not for you, so I think you’ve just got to embrace it and enjoy the challenge. And I think we’ve got a lot of guys in here that enjoy that challenge and have done a really good job of doing it.”
The Sabres will look to keep their momentum rolling as they wrap up their five-game homestand on Saturday with a matinee against the Minnesota Wild. Dubbed the Kids Takeover Game, puck drop is set for 12:30 p.m. The playoff push is heating up, and if Thursday night was any indication, Buffalo’s blend of youthful energy, veteran leadership, and a touch of history has them primed for an exciting second half.
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