Postgame Report | Thompson, Olofsson lead Sabres in rally over Chicago

Tage Thompson had the Sabres' leaders in his ear as he continued to pursue his second goal of the season, which had eluded him despite a plethora of shot attempts spanning five periods.
Sabres coach Don Granato pulled Thompson aside Saturday morning and told him simply to relax and trust his game. Kyle Okposo reiterated that message to Thompson during their game against the Chicago Blackhawks, with the Sabres trailing by two goals and in danger of a third straight loss.
"I told Tommer before he scored, you just got to stick with it and get a greasy one," Okposo said. "He was able to get two."

Thompson scored twice in a span of 4:52 to erase the deficit and Victor Olofsson scored his second goal of the game in overtime to clinch a 4-3 win for the Sabres inside KeyBank Center. Thompson also earned the secondary assist on the winning goal to complete a three-point outing.
The victory improved the Sabres to 5-3-0, coming on the heels of a home loss to the Montreal Canadiens in which they recorded a season-high 45 shots but only scored two goals. Thompson alone had eight shots in that game with no goals to show for them.
The story was similar through two periods against the Blackhawks. The Sabres were held to one goal despite a heavy advantage in shots (they would again finish with 45). Thompson, who again finished with eight shots along with 14 attempts, was among a myriad of forwards who had missed chances.
He stuck with it, heeding the advice of his coach and captain.
"I think it was just a matter of time," Thompson said. "If you're getting chances, I think that's all you can really ask for. If you're not getting chances, that's when you've kinda got to be looking yourself in the mirror to see what's going on. If you're getting chances, I think they're bound to go in."
They were, and they did. Here's the breakdown from a comeback win over the Blackhawks.

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How it happened

PERIOD 1
The Sabres generated a 16-5 edge in shots but emerged from a period that included four penalties and two coaches' challenges tied, 1-1.
Olofsson buried the Sabres' 10th shot of the night on their second power play, but the goal was taken off the board after a successful offside challenge by the Blackhawks - though only momentarily. Olofsson scored again off the very next draw, emphatically sending a shot in from the high slot.

Jason Dickinson answered with a power-play goal for the Blackhawks with 9:40 remaining in the period. Dickinson collected the puck to the left of the net after an initial save by Anderson and tossed it toward the goal line. Multiple players collapsed toward the puck, eventually pushing it across.
The Sabres challenged unsuccessfully for goaltender interference. Video replay showed Blackhawks forward Andreas Athanasiou make contact with Anderson in the crease, but officials ruled that Athanasiou was making an attempt at the loose puck.
Below is the full explanation from the NHL Situation Room:
"Video review confirmed no goaltender interference occurred as Andreas Athanasiou was making a play on the loose puck in the crease before Jason Dickinson's goal. The decision was made in accordance with Rule 69.7 which states, in part, the goal on the ice should have been allowed because 'in a rebound situation, or where a goalkeeper and attacking player(s) are simultaneously attempting to play a loose puck, whether inside or outside the crease, incidental contact will be permitted, and any goal that is scored as a result thereof will be allowed.'"
PERIOD 2
Chicago pulled ahead on goals from Sam Lafferty and Taylor Raddysh scored 1:31 apart. Like the goal from Dickinson, both were scored amid scrambles inside the blue paint.
The 3-1 score held despite the Sabres once again generating advantages in shot attempts (27-21) and scoring chances (17-12).
PERIOD 3
The Sabres killed off a penalty for too many men to start the period, then made their push until Thompson brought them back.
Thompson scored his first goal with 8:05 remaining. Okposo took a shot from long-range and Thompson buried the rebound from the blue paint:

The Sabres killed off a penalty before Thompson struck again for the game-tying goal with 3:13 remaining. Okposo forechecked down low, found Jeff Skinner in front, and Skinner found Thompson stationed at the backdoor.

OVERTIME
The Sabres opened the extra period on the power play after Jonathan Toews took a holding penalty with 1:07 left in regulation. Rasmus Dahlin then found Olofsson on the right wing to set up the game-winner 36 seconds in.

What we learned

1.Ilya Lyubushkin did not play due to a lower-body injury. Kale Clague stepped in and made his Sabres debut on defense, finishing with one hit, one blocked shot and an even rating in 17:09 of action.
Lyubushkin sustained a lower-body injury in Edmonton last Tuesday, which he had played through for three games.
"We feel that giving him a little bit of time off should remedy (the injury) sooner than later," Granato said.
2. Sabres coach Don Granato tweaked the forward lines late in the second period, with positive results. Okposo moved alongside Thompson and Skinner and earned assists on both Thompson goals.
"The biggest thing that stands out is just the fact that he's been around the league for so long, so when you get into situations like this every play he's making is the right one," Thompson said of Okposo. "He's not messing around with the puck, he's putting pucks in spots where we can get them back. He's strong on battles. I mean, that's our leader. That's the guy we follow. He did a great job there leading the way."

3. Olofsson has six goals and they've come in three multi-goal games. He scored twice on opening night, twice in Vancouver and now twice at home against Chicago.
4. Dahlin earned the primary assist on the overtime goal, the icing on a performance that included a flattening hit on Athanasiou, multiple highlight-reel drives in the offensive zone, a game-high 26:23 of ice time, and a 64.8 shot-attempts percentage.
Dahlin's 10 points rank second in the NHL among defensemen.
"I'm not shocked anymore," Olofsson said. "He just keeps doing it and he's been unbelievable for us. Yeah, he's a hell of a player."

Up next

The homestand continues against Detroit on Monday.Tickets are available here.
Coverage on MSG begins at 6:30 p.m. The puck drops at 7.