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Kristen Shilton, ESPN NHL reporterDec 5, 2023, 01:51 PM ET
CloseKristen Shilton is a national NHL reporter for ESPN.
BUFFALO — Tage Thompson will return to the Buffalo Sabres lineup on Tuesday when they face the Detroit Red Wings – who are still waiting on Patrick Kane to debut.
The Sabres have been missing Thompson the last nine games since he took a shot off the wrist against Boston on Nov. 14. Buffalo’s been in a slump of late with three consecutive losses piling up ahead of Tuesday’s tilt against Detroit, and more injuries – including to Alex Tuch earlier this week – becoming a factor.
Thompson said he didn’t feel pressured to get back though even after Tuch suffered a lower-body injury on Sunday that will hold him out up to 10 days.
“I wouldn’t say [I felt rushed] at all,” Thompson said after the Sabres’ morning skate on Tuesday. “If he didn’t get hurt, I still feel like today would have been a good timeline for me. Obviously, I had a schedule [in mind], but it feels good. There’s been no issues. And obviously I got cleared medically, so it’s just up to me now [to play].”
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Buffalo’s top center has six goals and 12 points in 16 games through what’s been a rough early start to the Sabres’ season, where they’ve failed – so far – to take the predicted steps towards being playoff contenders. Heading into Tuesday’s game, Buffalo is second-last in the Atlantic Division with a 10-13-2 record.
A healthy Thompson hopes to help get the Sabres on track.
“It just comes down to compete and will and just lining up from the guy across from you and enforcing your will on him,” said Thompson. “Are you going to let them win the battle? And I think obviously from watching, the consistency of winning and losing battles is too big right now. And I think that’s just got to be a mindset, when you hop over the boards, you’re not letting that guy across from you take the puck from you or beat you in a battle. Those are just little things that add up over the course of…
Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39048518/sabres-tage-thompson-returns-red-wings-await-patrick-kane-debut
Author : Kristen Shilton
Publish date : 2023-12-05 18:52:53
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