U.S. Olympian Tage Thompson leads Sabres to 2-1 win over Devils

Thompson scored a goal and added an assist as the Sabres defeated the Devils in their first game back from the Olympics.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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U.S. Olympian Tage Thompson scored his 31st goal of the season and added an assist to help the Buffalo Sabres beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Wednesday night in the NHL's return to action. Peyton Krebs also scored for the Sabres, who have won seven of their last 10 games. Timo Meier scored the lone goal for the Devils.

Why it matters

The win keeps the Sabres in the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference as they look to make the playoffs for the first time in 14 seasons. Thompson's strong performance after leading Team USA to Olympic gold adds to his breakout season.

The details

Thompson scored in the second period to give the Sabres a 1-0 lead, and Krebs made it 2-0 midway through the third. Meier scored for the Devils with 2:30 remaining to make it a one-goal game, but the Sabres held on for the victory. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 27 saves for the Sabres, while Jake Allen had 28 saves for the Devils.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
  • Thompson scored his 31st goal of the season in the second period.
  • Krebs scored the Sabres' second goal midway through the third period.
  • Meier scored the Devils' lone goal with 2:30 remaining in the game.

The players

Tage Thompson

A U.S. Olympian who scored a goal and added an assist for the Sabres in the game.

Peyton Krebs

A Sabres player who scored a goal and added an assist in the game.

Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen

The Sabres goaltender who made 27 saves in the win.

Jake Allen

The Devils goaltender who made 28 saves in the loss.

Timo Meier

The Devils player who scored their lone goal in the game.

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What’s next

The Sabres will next play the Florida Panthers on Friday night, while the Devils will travel to face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night.

The takeaway

Thompson's strong performance after leading Team USA to Olympic gold adds to his breakout season, and the Sabres' win keeps them in the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference as they look to end their 14-year playoff drought.