Thompson nearing 40 goals with 2 games remaining

Tage Thompson is keeping the same mindset that has fueled his career-best campaign as he chases the 40-goal mark with two games remaining in the Sabres' season.
Thompson is currently riding a six-game point streak, pushing him to 37 goals and 30 assists. The Sabres visit the Boston Bruins on Thursday and conclude the season at home against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.
"Obviously, reaching 40 goals would really be an incredible achievement," Thompson said. "It's hard not to think about it, but you try just to block it out and focus on the team stuff because that's what really matters. I think when you start focusing on the numbers, that's when you'll probably get snake bitten."

Thompson entered this season with a chip on his shoulder, eager to prove he could take his game to new heights. He surpassed his previous career-high goal total (eight) in just 20 games. He hit the 20-goal mark on Feb. 20.
Thirty goals came and went in early, and he still wasn't satisfied.
"Once I started creeping up to that goal, I just wanted to continue to set the bar higher," he said. "Once I reached 30, it just wanted me to keep climbing up and keep growing."
Sabres coach Don Granato recalled a conversation with Thompson after eclipsing the 30-mark.
"There was a shared understanding between us that you're going to go score more," Granato said. "So, we can celebrate this, but let's still go onward and upward. There's a lot more for him in the future."

With time winding down in the regular season to get to 40 goals, Granato acknowledged that he will do whatever was in his power to make that happen.
"If we have a situation where there's an empty netter on the other end, he's earned it to have that opportunity to score because he works so hard," he said.
Here are more notes from Monday's practice at KeyBank Center.

Okposo named Sabres Masterton nominee

Before practice, the Buffalo chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA) selected Kyle Okposo as the Sabres' nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.
The award is given annually to the player that best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. Okposo will go up against nominees from the NHL's other 31 teams. The winner will be announced during the NHL Awards in June.
Pat LaFontaine was the last Sabres player to win the award in 1995, while current goaltender Craig Anderson was the recipient in 2017 with the Ottawa Senators.
Okposo has embraced his leadership role with a locker room full of young players while having one of his best seasons in Buffalo. In 74 games this season, Okposo's 21 goals and 45 points are his highest since signing with the Sabres before the 2016-17 season.

Monday's practice

Craig Anderson, Vinnie Hinostroza, Cody Eakin, and Mattias Samuelsson were all absent from practice on Monday.
Samuelsson had a scheduled maintenance day as he recovers from a lower-body injury with extra time in between their next game in Boston on Thursday.
Anderson underwent further testing to see if he will be able to play for either of the season's final two games. Eakin missed due to illness, and Hinostroza had a personal matter.
Okposo left practice early with a non-contact injury.
The Sabres have a day off on Tuesday, then practice Wednesday in preparation for back-to-back games against Boston and Chicago.
"I felt today the practice intensity and focus were great," Granato said. "Enthusiasm and energy were also there. We just played so much hockey, and now that we have four days in between games, it's a perfect time to get us prepared physically and mentally for the final two games."