Thompson hopes to build off return in Columbus

Tage Thompson waited nine days for his chance to return to the lineup. Once he did, he barely had to wait at all for an opportunity to impact the scoresheet.
Just over a minute had ticked off the clock in the Sabres' game in Columbus on Saturday when Casey Nelson made a quick pass to set Thompson free on a 2-on-1 rush with Kyle Okposo. Thompson waited for defenseman David Savard to drop to the ice before sending a pass across to the other side of the net.
Okposo went five-hole to beat goalie Joonas Korpisalo at the 1:38 mark, giving Thompson his first point as a Sabre.

"It definitely feels good, especially getting right back in the lineup and then catching a lucky bounce there and getting a 2-on-1 with Okie," Thompson said. "It feels good to get on the board and help contribute a little offense to the team, I guess.
"It was definitely nice getting a monkey off my back in terms of getting a point but there's still I a lot I've got to do in terms of helping the team."
Thompson sat three games as a healthy scratch after going scoreless in seven games to begin the season. The 20-year-old could have gone to Rochester without passing through waivers, but coach Phil Housley felt it was best to give him another perspective before inserting him back in the lineup.
Taking a step back and watching those three games left Thompson with the sense he had more time to make plays on the ice. Housley felt he got the response he was looking for in Columbus.
"I thought Tage had a really strong game," Housley said. "He showed his speed, he was going to the net hard, he made that nice play on the 2-on-1 with that reach he has and I like him shooting the puck, especially on the power play off the flank there. It was good for him that he had a good showing."
Thompson tallied three shots (matching his season-high) and five attempts in 11:32. He skated 3:59 on the power play, using his shot to create chances from the left circle.
"I think it's a little bit of work in practice and spare time, just trying to work on his release," Housley said. "The power play's a different situation, he was off the flank and had a couple good one-timers there. His shot is his weapon. If he can get it off quick and get it to the net, good things are going to happen."
If practice on Monday was any indication, Thompson is poised to in the lineup again when the Sabres host Calgary on Tuesday. He practiced on a line with Vladimir Sobotka and Kyle Okposo, with Evan Rodrigues and Remi Elie skating as extra forwards.
"I thought it was a good first game back," Thompson added. "Obviously, there's things I've got to get better at and build on, but I was pretty happy with the effort, the work ethic I had."

Monday's practice

Jake McCabe did not practice and is currently considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury, Housley said. The defenseman missed time in the second period on Saturday but returned to skate 7:15 in the third.
Rasmus Dahlin skated on a pair with Rasmus Ristolainen in his absence.
"He just went in, got a little dent and came back out and finished the game," Housley said. "I'm going to talk to the trainers after this and see where he's at, but right now as far as I know it's day-to-day."
After heading home from Columbus for personal reasons, Rodrigues was back at practice with good news. His wife gave birth to their first son, Grayson, early Sunday morning. Both mom and baby are healthy.
Here's how the full lineup looked on Monday:
53 Jeff Skinner - 9 Jack Eichel - 29 Jason Pominville
43 Conor Sheary - 37 Casey Mittelstadt - 23 Sam Reinhart
72 Tage Thompson - 17 Vladimir Sobotka - 21 Kyle Okposo
10 Patrik Berglund - 22 Johan Larsson - 28 Zemgus Girgensons
71 Evan Rodrigues - 81 Remi Elie
26 Rasmus Dahlin - 55 Rasmus Ristolainen
6 Marco Scandella - 4 Zach Bogosian
82 Nathan Beaulieu - 8 Casey Nelson
40 Carter Hutton
35 Linus Ullmark