Russell LaBounty-USA TODAY Sports
Tage Thompson tied the all-time NHL record for most goals in a period.
The Buffalo Sabers forward scored four times against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first period of Wednesday night’s game. He’s the only Saber to reach four goals in a period.
This was the 18th instance that an NHLer scored four times in a period, joining players such as Wayne Gretzky, Bryan Trottier and, most recently, Patrick Marleau in tying the NHL record.
It all came in a wild first period on a national broadcast where the Sabers scored six goals on just 14 shots against the Blue Jackets in Columbus.
Thompson notched five points in the first period – another franchise record that beat 19 occasions of four-point periods – while Jeff Skinner, Rasmus Dahlin and Dylan Cozens each got three points in the opening frame.
He added another goal in the second period, which tied the franchise record for most goals in a game at five, first set by Dave Andreychuk in 1986.
He ended the game with five goals and an assist in a 9-4 blowout win over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Columbus starter Joonas Korpisalo was pulled after allowing three goals on five shots in 7:28, including Thompson’s first goal. Once Elvis Merzlikins entered the match, Thompson scored his second goal to make it four goals for Buffalo on four straight shots from two different netminders.
The Blue Jackets had no shots on goal at that point but got to two as Thompson scored his hat-trick goal, launching a 100-mph cannon one-timer past Merzlikins.
For insurance, Thompson one-timed another shot from the faceoff dot for a 5-on-3 power-play goal.
He then scored his fifth goal of the game with under four minutes left in the second period.
Thompson extended his point streak to five games, and he now has eight goals and 14 points in that span.
He jumped up to third place in the league for goals (22), overtaking Bo Horvat’s 21, and fourth place in points with 40 before four more games started Wednesday night.
Thompson entered the game already halfway to his career high of 68 points set last season, which was his massive breakout year after only having 35 points in 145 games over four seasons. He’s currently on pace for 66 goals and 126 points in 82 games.
The Sabers improved to 12-13-1 while the Blue Jackets fell to 8-15-2, losing their third straight.
The NHL record for most goals in a game is seven, set by Joe Malone of the Quebec Bulldogs in 1920. There have only been seven instances of six-goal games.
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