Tage Thompson leads the way on the night he's honored

Buffalo Sabres defeat Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 after honoring Olympic gold medalists

Mar. 4, 2026 at 4:54am

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The Buffalo Sabres defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 on Tuesday night, with Tage Thompson scoring the game-winning goal. The evening began with the Sabres honoring Thompson, Jack Eichel, and Noah Hanifin for winning Olympic gold medals with Team USA.

Why it matters

The Sabres have won four straight games coming out of the Olympic break, showcasing their improved play and the impact of their Olympic gold medalists. Thompson's game-winning goal on the night he was honored highlights the team's momentum and the fan support for their hometown heroes.

The details

The Sabres dominated the first half of the game, with Owen Power's shot from the point giving them a 2-0 lead. Thompson then scored the eventual game-winner to make it 3-0. The Golden Knights mounted a late comeback, scoring two goals in 1:37 to make it 3-2, but the Sabres held on for the victory. Goaltender Alex Lyon made key saves to preserve the win.

  • The evening started with the fans honoring Team USA Gold Medal winners Tage Thompson, Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin.
  • Jason Zucker scored the first goal of the game for the Sabres at 4:02 of the first period.
  • Owen Power's shot from the point gave the Sabres a 2-0 lead.
  • Tage Thompson scored the game-winning goal for the Sabres.
  • The Golden Knights scored two goals in 1:37 to make it 3-2 late in the game.

The players

Tage Thompson

A Buffalo Sabres player who was honored before the game for winning a gold medal with Team USA at the Olympics.

Jack Eichel

A Buffalo Sabres player who was honored before the game for winning a gold medal with Team USA at the Olympics.

Noah Hanifin

A Buffalo Sabres player who was honored before the game for winning a gold medal with Team USA at the Olympics.

Rasmus Dahlin

A Buffalo Sabres player who commented on the pregame ceremony honoring the Olympic gold medalists.

Jason Zucker

A Buffalo Sabres player who scored the first goal of the game.

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What they’re saying

“What an awesome night, so cool that my family got to be there for puck drop, I had no idea that was happening and to get to share that moment with them and with Jack, Noah, and Bretsky, (Sabres and Team USA massage therapist Brett Compton)that was really special and what an amazing reception from the crowd, it was a little emotional for me and it meant a lot so thank you to all the fans who supported us and showed up tonight.”

— Tage Thompson

“That's the craziest thing I've ever seen at Key Bank.”

— Rasmus Dahlin

What’s next

The Sabres will fly to Pittsburgh on Wednesday to play the Penguins on Thursday.

The takeaway

The Sabres' four-game winning streak coming out of the Olympic break, fueled by the performance of their Olympic gold medalists, has them surging in the standings and energizing their fan base with exciting, hard-fought victories.