If you were looking for the Buffalo Sabres score today, you caught them at arguably the most electric moment of the season. They just beat the Montreal Canadiens 5-3 in a game that felt less like a mid-January grind and more like a statement. KeyBank Center was buzzing, mostly because the team decided to honor the legendary 2005-06 squad tonight, and honestly, the current roster played like they were possessed by those ghosts of playoffs past.
Tage Thompson didn't just play hockey; he took over the building. He finished with a hat trick and two assists. Five points. In one night. His second goal wasn't just the game-winner; it was the 200th of his career. It’s kinda wild to think about where this team was a few months ago compared to now. They’ve won 15 of their last 17 games. That’s not just a hot streak—that’s a full-blown heater that has the entire Atlantic Division looking over their shoulder.
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The Sabres Score Today and How They Got There
Montreal didn't make it easy. Cole Caufield opened the scoring by burying his own rebound on a 2-on-1, which usually deflates a Buffalo crowd. But this version of the Sabres is different. They actually respond. Within 20 seconds of going on the power play, Thompson ripped a one-timer to tie it up.
The first period was a total track meet. Josh Doan, who is basically becoming a folk hero in Buffalo at this point, scored a goal that looked like something out of a video game. He was literally at the goal line, 12 feet from the net, and just decided to skate through everyone and roof it. It’s that kind of fearlessness that has helped Buffalo climb to a 26-16-4 record.
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A Back-and-Forth Battle
The second period felt a bit more desperate. Montreal’s Ivan Demidov and Nick Suzuki both found the back of the net on the power play, putting the Sabres down 3-2. You could feel the tension. But then Rasmus Dahlin found Thompson, who fed Alex Tuch for a long-range blast to tie it again. Dahlin’s assist on that play actually moved him into a tie with Jason Pominville for eighth on the Sabres' all-time assist list with 304.
The turning point came 5:12 into the third. Peyton Krebs—who does a lot of the dirty work people rarely talk about—kept a puck alive in the Montreal zone. Doan tracked it down, found Thompson in the left circle, and snap. 4-3 Buffalo.
Who Really Stepped Up?
While Thompson gets the headlines, Colten Ellis was solid in net. He made 20 saves on 23 shots. It wasn't a "stand on your head" kind of night, but he made the stops when the defense broke down, especially during a chaotic sequence in the third where Jason Zucker had to block a shot with his body while Ellis was scrambling.
Zucker actually gave everyone a scare. He collided with a Montreal player in the second and went straight to the locker room. Sabres fans are already dealing with Josh Norris being out (ribs), so seeing Zucker limp off was grim. Luckily, he came back for the third and played some of his most physical hockey of the night.
- Tage Thompson: 3 Goals, 2 Assists (9th career hat trick)
- Josh Doan: 1 Goal, 1 Assist (Continued breakout season)
- Alex Tuch: 1 Goal (16th of the season)
- Colten Ellis: 20 Saves (Continued reliability in relief)
The Big Picture: Why This Win Matters
Buffalo now has 56 points through 47 games. To put that in perspective, that’s their best start since the 2009-10 season. They aren't just winning games; they’re finding different ways to do it. Wednesday night against Philly, they won despite only having 14 shots on goal. Tonight, they outshot Montreal 27-23 and relied on high-end skill.
The vibes in the locker room seem different. Maybe it was having the 2005-06 guys in the building, but there’s a level of confidence here that’s been missing for a decade. Thompson is on pace for a 45-goal season, and Dahlin is playing like a Norris Trophy finalist every single shift.
What’s Next for the Buffalo Sabres?
There’s no time to celebrate this one for long. The schedule stays busy as the team tries to solidify that wild card spot.
- Rest and Recovery: Keep an eye on the injury report for Jason Zucker and Josh Norris. With Konsta Helenius recently recalled from Rochester, the depth is being tested.
- Home Stand Continued: The Sabres host the Minnesota Wild this Saturday, January 17, at 12:30 PM EST. It’s another chance to bank points at KeyBank Center.
- The Road Ahead: After Saturday, they head out for a tough back-to-back against Carolina and Nashville.
If you're following the Buffalo Sabres score today, the takeaway is simple: believe the hype. This 15-2-0 run since early December isn't a fluke. They are playing fast, they are playing mean, and for the first time in a long time, they are playing meaningful hockey in January. Get your tickets for the Minnesota game early because this arena is finally starting to feel like a fortress again.