Tage Thompson scored a natural hat trick and had two assists to help the visiting Buffalo Sabres rally for a wild 7-6 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday.
Zach Benson had a goal and two assists and Colten Ellis made 29 saves for the Sabres, who have won two in a row.
Cutter Gauthier scored twice for the Ducks, who have lost seven of eight (1-6-1). Ville Husso made 23 saves.
Thompson gave Buffalo its first lead of the game at 18:36 of the second period. Peyton Krebs won the draw back to Thompson, who quickly wired it inside the left post to make it 4-3.
He completed the hat trick 15 seconds later, zooming down the right side before cutting to the net and slipping the puck five-hole.
Jack Quinn’s pass intended for Benson on the back door went off Ducks defenseman Jackson Lacombe in front on the power play to extend Buffalo’s lead to 6-3 at 1:57 of the third period.
Benson converted on a breakaway to make it 7-3 at 6:37.
Gauthier’s blast from the right circle on the power play cut it to 7-4 at 7:26.
With Husso pulled for the extra attacker, Tristan Luneau narrowed it to 7-5 at 18:52, and Beckett Sennecke made it a one-goal game at 19:30.
Mikael Granlund scored on a 5-on-3 power play to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead at 1:57 of the first period, redirecting a pass from LaCombe through his legs and past Ellis’ left pad.
Gauthier doubled the lead at 2:54 with a one-timer from the right circle on the power play.
Tyson Kozak cut the deficit in half at 10:03 when his wrist shot from the middle of the blue line beat a screened Husso glove side.
Roger McQueen’s first NHL goal made it 3-1 for the Ducks. Sam Colangelo poked a touch pass to McQueen, who snapped it blocker side from the slot at 10:38.
Noah Ostlund pulled Buffalo within one on the power play at 11:39. Benson’s shot attempt from the slot bounced off LaCombe to Ostlund in the right circle, who quickly buried it glove side.
Thompson’s highlight-reel tally tied it 3-3 at 15:32. He drove into the zone with speed, moved to the left side and dropped his shoulder to fend off Luneau before cutting to the front and putting a wrist shot blocker side.
