Playoffs
Tage Thompson Savors Playoff Vibes at Olympics
Tage Thompson, Buffalo's 30-goal sniper who's never sniffed NHL playoffs in seven seasons, finally tastes do-or-die hockey with Team USA in the Olympic quarterfinals. Lining up on the third unit with Dylan Larkin and Clayton Keller, the 6-foot-6 center brings his NHL bomb of a shot and backhand magic to a lineup stacked with Matthews and Eichel. Buffalo clings to the East's first wild card, so this high-stakes run could be the perfect warmup for ending their 14-year postseason curse.