In a thrilling matchup, the Buffalo Sabres triumphed over the Montreal Canadiens with a score of 5-3 on January 15, 2026, driven by an incredible performance from Tage Thompson. The talented forward not only netted three goals, marking the milestone of his 200th career goal, but also contributed two assists to his team’s victory.
Josh Doan played a significant role as well, scoring once and assisting another goal, while Alex Tuch added to the scoreboard, showcasing the Sabres' offensive prowess. With this win, the Sabres have now achieved an impressive record of 15 victories in their last 17 games. Goalie Colten Ellis made 20 saves, solidifying his team's defensive efforts.
Currently, the Sabres hold a record of 26 wins, 16 losses, and 4 overtime losses, accumulating 56 points so far this season. This marks their best start through 47 games since the 2009-10 season, when they managed a remarkable 30-11-6 record.
On the other side, the Canadiens saw contributions from Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, who each recorded a goal and an assist, along with Ivan Demidov, who scored as well. Rookie goalie Jacob Fowler stepped up with 22 saves in the game.
Prior to this game, the Canadiens had suffered a narrow 3-2 overtime loss against Washington, but they have fared well overall, with a record of 8 wins, 2 losses, and 4 ties in their last 14 games.
The match was tightly contested, with both teams exchanging leads throughout the first two periods. A turning point came early in the third period when Thompson scored to put Buffalo ahead at 5:12. After Peyton Krebs skillfully kept the puck in the Montreal zone, he passed it to Doan, who then set up Thompson for a swift shot into the net.
Thompson capped off his hat trick with a final empty-net goal, highlighting his outstanding night on the ice. The Sabres have been particularly strong at home, winning 10 of their last 12 home games, and they broke a streak of not winning against the Canadiens at home since their last victory on November 26, 2022.
As part of the evening's festivities, the Sabres honored the 20th anniversary of their 2005-06 team, which had a memorable run to the Eastern Conference finals before falling to the Carolina Hurricanes in a decisive Game 7. Among the former players present were notable names like goalie Ryan Miller, forwards Thomas Vanek and Jason Pominville, as well as defenseman Jay McKee. In a heartwarming surprise, Miller announced that both Vanek and Pominville would be inducted into the Sabres Hall of Fame.
Fans were also treated to a special message from Flyers general manager Danny Briere, who co-captained the 2005-06 team, played on the video scoreboard.
Looking ahead, the Canadiens will wrap up their three-game road trip with a visit to Ottawa on Saturday, while the Sabres will conclude their five-game homestand by hosting Minnesota on the same day.
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