Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

Thompson stars as Sabres clinch Atlantic title with a 5-1 victory over Blackhawks

Thompson stars as Sabres clinch Atlantic title with a 5-1 victory over Blackhawks | iNFOnews.ca
Buffalo Sabres' Tage Thompson (72) celebrates with teammates at the bench after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks in Chicago, Monday, April 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

CHICAGO (AP) — Tage Thompson scored twice to reach 40 goals on the season, and the Buffalo Sabres clinched the Atlantic Division title by defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 5-1 on Monday night.

Alex Tuch had a goal and an assist as Buffalo (50-23-8) posted its fourth consecutive win. Ryan McLeod and Josh Norris also scored, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 15 saves.

Buffalo earned its first division title since the 2009-10 season and seventh overall. It reached 50 wins for the third time in franchise history, also accomplishing the feat in 2005-06 and 2006-07.

The Sabres were in the mix for the top spot in the Eastern Conference before Carolina secured the position by earning a point in a shootout loss at Philadelphia.

Ryan Greene scored for Chicago (28-39-14), and Spencer Knight made 21 saves. The last-place Blackhawks dropped to 7-17-7 in their last 31 games.

The game was tied at 1 before Thompson scored from the low slot 13 minutes into the second after stealing the puck from Blackhawks defenseman Louis Crevier.

Shortly after Buffalo killed off a 5-on-3 power play in the third, Tuch got a stretch pass from Rasmus Dahlin and finished the breakaway for a 3-1 lead. It was Tuch’s third goal in four games and No. 32 on the year.

Thompson scored again at 11:13 on a one-timer off a pass from Dahlin. Thompson has three seasons with at least 40 goals, including a career-high 47 in the 2022-23 season.

Chicago jumped in front on Greene’s short-handed goal 3:58 into the first. Greene also scored during Saturday’s 5-3 loss to St. Louis, stopping a 12-game drought.

Norris responded with his 12th goal for Buffalo, beating Knight over the goaltender’s right shoulder with 58 seconds left in the first. Norris has two goals and six assists in his last seven games.

Up next

Both teams finish the regular season at home on Wednesday night. The Sabres face the Dallas Stars, and the Blackhawks play the San Jose Sharks.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/nhl

Thompson stars as Sabres clinch Atlantic title with a 5-1 victory over Blackhawks | iNFOnews.ca
Buffalo Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, left, makes a save during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks in Chicago, Monday, April 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Thompson stars as Sabres clinch Atlantic title with a 5-1 victory over Blackhawks | iNFOnews.ca
Buffalo Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen makes a save during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks in Chicago, Monday, April 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Thompson stars as Sabres clinch Atlantic title with a 5-1 victory over Blackhawks | iNFOnews.ca
Chicago Blackhawks’ Ryan Greene (20) celebrates with teammates at the bench after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres in Chicago, Monday, April 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Thompson stars as Sabres clinch Atlantic title with a 5-1 victory over Blackhawks | iNFOnews.ca
Chicago Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight makes a save during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres in Chicago, Monday, April 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

Create a free account

The Associated Press

Jay Cohen

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.

Related Articles