Tage Thompson reveals game plan as he scores hat-trick in win over Tampa Bay

In a Thursday night NHL game, the Buffalo Sabres rode on Tage Thompson's hat-trick to score six goals to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in an OT away from home. The game was well-contested between the two from the first period, which ended 1-1.

Tage Thompson scored twice within three minutes in the second period to give his team a crucial advantage. Even though the Lightning scored once, it was not enough for them to take the pressure while moving into the third period.

However, it was a different story in the third period as the Lightning scored thrice in response to the Sabres' goal to take the scores level as the game went into overtime. Ultimately, a solo effort from Ilya Lyubushkin pulled the game in the Sabres' favor.

After the game, Thompson gave his opinion to the press. He said that it was a great game and is happy with the effort these boys put in for the win.

When asked about the last Toronto Maple Leafs, he responded:

"We definitely did not like our game and we just wanted to come here and stick to the plans for the whole 60 and we did that."

Thompson added,

"Everyone On The Bench Was On Their Feet Screaming"

People also took to Twitter to express their thoughts about the game. One fan said:

"I haven't cheered that loud for a Sabres goal in a long time. Great game and moment for Lyubushkin"

Here are a few such tweets.

Tage Thompson's Career so far

Tage Thompson joined the Buffalo Sabres after spending the 2015-16 season at the St. Louis Blues. In his first season with the Sabres, he played 65 games, scored seven, and assisted in five goals in this period.

He has rapidly improved as a player to breach the 60-point mark for the first time in his career. He has already scored over 39 goals, and with close to 30 games still left in the league stages, we can expect Tage Thompson to ride this momentum to achieve more this season.

Buffalo Sabres 2022-23 season so far

The Sabres have had a decent season so far and currently sit in sixth place in the Eastern Conference Atlantic Division with 62 points. With just two behind the fourth-placed Detroit Red Wings, they are well in the mix to finish the league stages in the top four.

The Sabres have a powerful offensive setup that has fetched over 200 goals this season. In contrast, the defense has failed to contribute enough and has conceded almost 3.5 goals per game this season. However, with a better showing in the last few games in totality, the defense looks better placed for the challenges ahead but has to adapt quickly to sustain the big aspirations of the NHL season.

It will be interesting to see how the Buffalo Sabres approach their next game as they travel next to Florida to face the Florida Panthers on Friday ( February 24).