Detroit Red Wings rally 3 times but lose, 7-6, in SO to Buffalo Sabres: Game thread recap
Detroit Red Wings (35-33-9, 79 points) vs. Buffalo Sabres (37-32-7, 81 points)
When: 7 p.m. Thursday.
Where: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
TV: Bally Sports Detroit.
Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1; Red Wings radio affiliates).
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Game notes: One more point will give the Sabres 82 points on the season, their most since they went 39-32-11 for 89 points back in 2011-12. Of course, they missed the playoffs that season, too — Buffalo has the league’s longest playoff drought at 11 seasons, and they’re likely to make it an even dozen without wins in all six of their final games, plus some help from the Islanders, Penguins or Panthers, who sit ahead of the Sabres in the race for two wild-card spots at 87, 87 and 86 points, respectively.
So expect a focus from the fellas in blue and gold (or black and red, they brought back the “goathead” unis from the days of Dominik Hasek this season, as well), especially from center Tage Thompson. The 6-foot-6 Arizona native has 44 goals and 46 assists (both career highs) this season, including two goals and an assist over his past five games combined. Thompson was a one-man wrecking crew back when these teams played on Halloween, posting three goals and three assists in an 8-3 Sabres win. In two games since against the Wings, however, he has been limited to just one assist, picked up in Buffalo’s 5-4 win on Nov. 30, so maybe the idea of, ‘Hey, watch out for the tall guy!’ is catching on.
The Wings, meanwhile, don’t have much to play for but pride, but they’ve still gone 4-1-0 over their past five, with wins over two squads — Carolina and Toronto — on pace for the playoffs. David Perron has been red-hot over his past nine games, with six goals and six assists, including two goals and an assist against the Canadiens on Tuesday night.
After tonight, the Wings wrap up their home slate with games against the Penguins on Saturday and the Stars on Monday. The Sabres, meanwhile, head home for a matinee with the Hurricanes on Saturday, then hit the road for three of their final four games.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Red Wings lose to Buffalo Sabres, 7-6, in SO: Live updates
