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It did not take lengthy for the Sabres to take the air out of Nationwide Arena in Wednesday’s sport towards the Blue Jackets. The Sabres raced to a 6-0 lead after solely 20 minutes of play, and Tage Thompson led the scoring barrage with 4 objectives to tie an NHL file for essentially the most in a primary interval.
Thompson acquired the scoring began early, becoming a member of Rasmus Dahlin in aiding on a Dylan Cozens objective at 3:21 of the primary interval. Less than two minutes later, Thompson scored his first objective of the night time, and he proceeded to file three extra inside a 10-minute span earlier than the interval mercifully closed for Columbus. Thompson joined rarified air along with his historic begin: He grew to become the fourth participant in NHL historical past to tally 4 objectives within the first interval, a bunch together with Peter Bondra (1994), Grant Mulvey (1982) and Joe Malone (1921).
The Sabres would preserve the momentum going by the remaining two intervals, profitable 9-4 whereas producing their highest-scoring output since a Nov. 3, 2018 contest towards Ottawa. Thompson scored a fifth objective within the massive win at 16:07 within the second interval, making him the second participant in Sabres historical past with 5 objectives in a sport (Dave Andreychuk was the primary in 1986) and likewise tying him for second in NHL historical past in objectives in a highway sport.
Both groups got here into Wednesday’s sport seeking to flip their seasons round after disappointing begins. The Sabres had ranked seventh within the Atlantic Division and misplaced 11 of their previous 16 video games. Columbus additionally got here in as chilly because it had misplaced 5 of six and ranked useless final within the Metropolitan Division.
