Thompson sparks Sabres

Tage Thompson scored Buffalo’s first goal of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs on April 19, touching off a Game 1 comeback that ended in a 4-3 Sabres win over Boston. (nhl.com) Thompson struck at 12:02 of the third period, then tied the game again at 15:44 in his first National Hockey League postseason appearance. Buffalo scored four times in the final period at KeyBank Center, with Mattias Samuelsson putting the Sabres ahead and Alex Tuch adding an empty-net goal. (nhl.com) The rally erased a 2-0 deficit and gave Buffalo its first playoff victory since April 20, 2011. The Sabres had gone 5,473 days between playoff games before opening this first-round series against the Bruins. (nbcsports.com) Buffalo entered the postseason after ending a 14-season playoff drought and winning the Atlantic Division. Boston arrived as the East’s first wild card, making this a matchup between a division winner returning to the playoffs and a Bruins team back after a one-year absence. (nbcsports.com) The game also landed on a major North American broadcast window. Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday, April 21, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN in the United States, with regional and Canadian carriage including NESN, MSG-B, TVAS2 and SN360 listed by the league. (nhl.com) ESPN described the building as going from “morgue to madhouse” as Buffalo scored four goals in 6:46 of the third period. Samuelsson said the arena “erupted” after Thompson got the Sabres started. (espn.com) The comeback was rare even by playoff standards. ESPN Research said Buffalo became only the second team to overcome a multigoal deficit in the final eight minutes and still win a postseason game in regulation. (espn.com) Thompson finished with two goals and an assist, and his first playoff goal turned a tense return night into a series lead. Buffalo goes into Game 2 up 1-0, with the same crowd now expecting another loud night at KeyBank Center. (nhl.com)