Tage Thompson's 33rd goal of season pushes Sabres past Knights

Buffalo Sabres defeat Vegas Golden Knights 3-2 in a close game

Mar. 4, 2026 at 1:10pm

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Tage Thompson scored his 33rd goal of the season and Alex Lyon made 27 saves as the Buffalo Sabres jumped out to a three-goal lead and then held on for their fourth straight victory, 3-2 over the visiting Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night. Owen Power and Jason Zucker also scored goals for the Sabres, who improved to a league-best 25-5-2 since December 9th. Ivan Barbashev and Pavel Dorofeyev scored goals for the Golden Knights, who dropped their third straight game.

Why it matters

This game showcases the strong performance of the Buffalo Sabres, who have been on a hot streak since December and are now one of the top teams in the league. The close game against the Vegas Golden Knights, who are also a strong team, demonstrates the competitiveness of the NHL this season.

The details

The Sabres jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first 26 minutes of the game, with goals from Zucker, Power, and Thompson. The Golden Knights were able to get back into the game with two goals in the second period from Barbashev and Dorofeyev, but were unable to complete the comeback. The Sabres held on for the 3-2 victory.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, March 4, 2026.
  • Zucker opened the scoring at the 4:02 mark of the opening period.
  • Power extended the Sabres' lead 46 seconds into the second period.
  • Thompson scored the game-winning goal midway through the second period.
  • Barbashev and Dorofeyev scored for the Golden Knights in the second period.

The players

Tage Thompson

A forward for the Buffalo Sabres who scored his 33rd goal of the season in the game.

Alex Lyon

The goaltender for the Buffalo Sabres who made 27 saves in the game.

Owen Power

A defenseman for the Buffalo Sabres who scored a goal in the game.

Jason Zucker

A forward for the Buffalo Sabres who scored the opening goal of the game.

Ivan Barbashev

A forward for the Vegas Golden Knights who scored a goal in the game.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

This game highlights the strong performance of the Buffalo Sabres, who have been one of the top teams in the NHL since December. The close game against the Vegas Golden Knights demonstrates the competitiveness of the league this season.