Tage Thompson extended his career-high point streak to 10 games as the Buffalo Sabres held on to defeat the Nashville Predators 3-1 for their sixth straight win.
Thompson has six goals and five assists during the streak.
Jason Ducker and Josh Doan also scored for the Sabres, who were opening a five-game homestand as they look to keep pace with the Tampa Bay Lightning — who they host Sunday — atop the Atlantic Division. Alex Lyon made 23 saves.
Zachary L’Heureux scored his first goal of the season for the Predators, who have lost four of five and were kicking off a five-game road swing. Matthew Wood also scored, and Juuse Saros made 21 saves.
Forward Sam Carrick, acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers on Friday, played 8:21 and had one shot on goal in his Buffalo debut.
After the Predators outshot the Sabres 6-2 in a scoreless first period, L’Heureux made it 1-0 at 1:17 of the second. Jonathan Marchessault carried the puck into the corner on the rush and fed out to L’Heureux, who was just off the bench and ripped a wrist shot past Lyon from the left circle.
It was Marchessault’s 300th NHL assist.
Thompson tied it 1-1 at 12:39 with his 34th goal of the season. After Thompson forced a turnover in the Nashville zone, he passed to Alex Tuch, circled behind the net and scored on a one-timer from the right circle off a return pass from Tuch.
Zucker made it 2-1 at 14:17 when he knocked in a loose puck on the goal line after Jack Quinn’s shot from the slot got behind Sarros.
Doan increased the lead to 3-1 just 16 seconds into the third period. He forced a turnover in the Nashville end, and when Josh Norris got to the puck in the corner, Doan went to the net and scored on a wrist shot off a pass from Norris.
Wood pulled the Predators within 3-2 at 16:08 of the third period, scoring on a tip-in after Roman Josi’s shot on a power play.
–Field Level Media
