Thompson is on standby as an emergency injury replacement for Team USA in the 4 Nations championship game against Canada.

Tage Thompson watched the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game from the press box in Boston's TD Garden as Connor McDavid scored the game-winning goal for Canada. The experience was a reminder of how badly Thompson wants to represent the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The Sabres are 0-2-0 so far this season against the Canadiens, who opened the season series with a back-and-forth 7-5 win at KeyBank Center on Nov. 11. In the rematch at Bell Centre on Dec. 17, Patrik Laine’s three power-play goals helped fuel the Canadiens to a 6-1 victory.

The Sabres have won five in a row at home for the first time since the 2019-20 season and are 8-2 downtown since Christmas. That includes 5-1 against Metropolitan foes and wins vs. Washington, Carolina,

The Sabres (23-27-5) surged to a 5-0 lead in the first period, securing their fifth win in six games. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen contributed 26 saves, while Ryan McLeod added two goals and Jason Zucker notched three assists.

Defenseman Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson had two goals and an assist each as the host Buffalo Sabres crushed the New York Rangers 8-2 on Saturday.

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Bowen Byram has had a great season with the Buffalo Sabres and re-signing him should be a top priority for the team.

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The Buffalo Sabres are coming off a win over the New York Rangers where it scored a season-high eight goals. Buffalo hosts the Anaheim Ducks Tuesday, with puck drop set for 7 p.m. ET. How to watch: Sabres vs. Rangers airs locally on MSG, it can be streamed on ESPN+. Time: 7 p.m. ET