Tage Thompson scores twice as Buffalo Sabres defeat Los Angeles Kings 3-2 at Crypto.com Arena

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Tage Thompson scored twice, including the go-ahead power-play goal at 13:40 of the third period, as the Buffalo Sabres held off the Los Angeles Kings for a 3-2 win at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday and extended the streak to three straight victories.

Buffalo jumped to an early lead when Jack Quinn scored at 6:35 of the first period on the power play. Quinn beat Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg with a snap shot from the slot, set up by Zach Benson and Rasmus Dahlin.

The Sabres built their advantage to 2-0 in the second period when Thompson added his first goal of the night at 15:38. Thompson finished a snap shot from the right circle after taking a pass from Benson off the rush.

Los Angeles responded on the power play at 17:24 of the second period. Corey Perry and Andre Lee each later contributed, but it was Perry who was involved immediately as Trevor Moore’s one-timer from the right circle deflected in off Perry for his first goal of the season. The initial call was waved off for goaltender interference before the Kings challenged successfully and the play was overturned.

Andre Lee tied the game at 2-2 just 1:29 into the third period. Lee was alone in the crease and finished Scott Laughton’s centering pass from the trapezoid shortly after a power play expired.

Thompson completed the scoring for Buffalo with his second goal at 13:40 of the third period. The forward scored on a one-timer from the left circle off Jack Quinn’s cross-slot pass, putting the Sabres back in front.

Quinn finished with a goal and an assist for Buffalo, while Benson and Dahlin each added two assists. Tage Thompson entered the game coming off a hat trick and two assists in a 7-6 win at the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday.

Between the pipes, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 27 saves to earn the win for the Sabres. Forsberg stopped 28 shots in the Kings’ net as Los Angeles fell to 4-7-2 overall.

The result left the Sabres at 7-4-3 and extended their road point streak to seven games, going 4-0-3 during that span. For the Kings, the loss came after they had earned their first home win on Thursday, leaving them with a home record of 1-4-0.