Thompson stars as Sabres clinch Atlantic title with a 5-1 victory over Blackhawks
CHICAGO (AP) — Tage Thompson scored twice to reach 40 goals on the season, and the Buffalo Sabres clinched the Atlantic Division title by defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 5-1 on Monday night. Alex Tuch had a goal and an assist as Buffalo (50-23-8) posted its fourth consecutive win. Ryan McLeod and Josh Norris also scored, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 15 saves.
Buffalo earned its first division title since the 2009-10 season and seventh overall. It reached 50 wins for the third time in franchise history, also accomplishing the feat in 2005-06 and 2006-07. The Sabres were in the mix for the top spot in the Eastern Conference before Carolina secured the position by earning a point in a shootout loss at Philadelphia.
Ryan Greene scored for Chicago (28-39-14), and Spencer Knight made 21 saves. The last-place Blackhawks dropped to 7-17-7 in their last 31 games. The game was tied at 1 before Thompson scored from the low slot 13 minutes into the second after stealing the puck from Blackhawks defenseman Louis Crevier.
Shortly after Buffalo killed off a 5-on-3 power play in the third, Tuch got a stretch pass from Rasmus Dahlin and finished the breakaway for a 3-1 lead. It was Tuch's third goal in four games and No. 32 on the year.
Thompson scored again at 11:13 on a one-timer off a pass from Dahlin. Thompson has three seasons with at least 40 goals, including a career-high 47 in the 2022-23 season. Chicago jumped in front on Greene's short-handed goal 3:58 into the first.