Sabres Provide Massive Update Regarding Superstar Returning

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Hunter Bowman
December 5, 2023 (3:02 PM)

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Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson officially declared his return to the playing lineup tonight as the Sabres gear up to face the Detroit Red Wings.

In a twist of fate, Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde also confirmed this morning that the recently acquired Patrick Kane will, in fact, not make his season debut in the upcoming clash against the Sabres.

Despite participating in the morning skate with the Red Wings today, Kane won't be donning his gear for the evening matchup, as revealed by Lalonde.

Over the weekend, Lalonde had indicated that Kane would make his debut within a week, yet refrained from providing a precise timetable or date for the star player's first appearance in a Red Wings jersey.

As for Tage Thompson, he has been absent from the Sabres lineup for three weeks after sustaining a wrist injury while bravely blocking a shot on November 14th against the Boston Bruins. Thompson fearlessly positioned himself in the line of fire, intercepting a powerful slapshot from Bruins defender Charlie McAvoy, a well-known force from the blue line.

Thompson participated in the morning skate with the Sabres earlier today, showcasing no signs of rust.

Take a look:

The 26-year-old forward has accumulated six goals and 12 points in 16 games at the start of the 2023-24 season, following a standout campaign last year with an impressive 47 goals and 94 points in 78 games. The Sabres, currently on a three-game losing streak and holding a 3-6-1 record in their last 10 games, are eager to return to the win column in tonight's crucial divisional matchup against the Red Wings.

The pressure is mounting on the Sabres this season to progress after a promising campaign last year, but they have so far fallen short of expectations. Presently, they sit in 7th place in the NHL's Atlantic Division, trailing five points behind a Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.