BUFFALO, N.Y. — In a concerning turn of events, Buffalo Sabres’ top scorer, Tage Thompson, exited Monday’s matchup against the Montreal Canadiens due to a lower-body injury in the second period and did not return to the ice.

Thompson had already found the net for his 11th goal of the season during the first period of the game, which ultimately ended in a disappointing 7-5 defeat for the Sabres. After scoring, he participated in just one shift during the second period before being sidelined. Following the game, Sabres coach Lindy Ruff was unable to provide any updates regarding Thompson’s injury situation.

The loss of Thompson is felt deeply within the team, as expressed by Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin, who emphasized the importance of Thompson’s contributions, stating, “He’s a huge piece on our team and we need him out there.”

In addition to Thompson’s injury, defenseman Mattias Samuelsson also departed from the game in the second period due to a lower-body ailment. As with Thompson, no further information was made available regarding Samuelsson’s condition after the conclusion of the game.

This season, Thompson has been a key player for the Sabres, tallying 11 goals and seven assists, accumulating a total of 18 points so far. The team and its supporters will be anxiously awaiting news on both players, as they play an essential role in the Sabres’ lineup moving forward.