The Buffalo Sabres will look to end their five-game homestand on a successful note when they welcome the Minnesota Wild for a Saturday matinee.
The Sabres remain one of the hottest teams in the league. They have won five out of six after Thursday’s 5-3 victory over Montreal, and coach Lindy Ruff’s team has lost just twice (15-2-0) since Dec. 9.
Continuing his stellar play of late, Tage Thompson netted his ninth career hat trick and finished with a season-high five points against the Canadiens. By surpassing 200 career goals in his 494th game, the soon-to-be U.S. Olympian became the fifth-fastest active American player to hit the mark.
Thompson, 28, has a six-game point streak and 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) over his last eight. His team-best 25 goals are tied for fifth in the league.
“When he gets rolling, he doesn’t miss his mark very often,” Ruff said. “He gets it off so quick that I don’t think the goalie can adjust.”
The Sabres have gotten production from their other top scorers of late, as well. Alex Tuch has a six-game point streak and nine points (five goals, four assists) in his last nine games. Josh Doan finished with at least a point in seven of his last eight.
It was not that long ago that the Wild also were considered one of the hotter teams in the league, but coach John Hynes’ squad has won just twice this month (2-3-2). Minnesota fell 6-2 to Winnipeg on Thursday to complete a winless (0-2-1) three-game homestand.
Thursday’s loss turned in the final 11 seconds of the first period, with the Jets scoring twice in that span to take a 3-0 lead into the locker room. An icing and a lost faceoff led to the fateful scores.
The Wild committed four penalties and allowed two power-play goals over the first two periods, which thwarted their comeback hopes.
“We talk a lot about being a disciplined team, a focused team,” Hynes said. “Attention to detail is critical. If you just take in tonight’s game, those little things matter.”
Injuries have affected Minnesota.
Joel Eriksson Ek, who ranks fourth on the team with 32 points, did not play in the homestand, and it’s uncertain whether the banged-up center will travel on the three-game, four-day road trip that starts in Buffalo.
Defenseman Jonas Brodin, who ranks third on the team with 91 blocked shots, was placed on injured reserve Thursday with a lower-body issue.
Still, Minnesota features one of the league’s top scoring duos, making the Central Division squad one of five teams with two players among the top 20 in points.
Kirill Kaprizov, who is among those tied with Thompson at 25 goals, leads the Wild with 52 points to rank 15th in the league.
Matt Boldy, whose team-high 27 goals are tied for third, has 51 points, which is tied for 17th in the NHL.
