Tage Thompson Scores Twice in 15 Seconds as Sabres Survive Ducks’ Wild 7–6 Comeback

ANAHEIM, October 30, 2026 — A 7–6 hockey game can be chaotic without being random. Buffalo’s win over Anaheim on Thursday night turned on a remarkable scoring surge by Tage Thompson, then nearly slipped away when the Ducks scored three unanswered goals late. The official NHL account confirms the final score was Buffalo Sabres 7, Anaheim Ducks 6, with Thompson recording a natural hat trick and two assists.

Fifteen seconds that changed the game

Anaheim led 3–1 during the first period, but Buffalo found a route back. Thompson tied the score at 3–3, then scored at 18:36 and 18:51 of the second period — two goals separated by just 15 seconds — to turn a tie into a 5–3 Sabres lead. His three consecutive goals formed a natural hat trick, and his five-point night was the defining individual performance.

Buffalo’s momentum extended into the third period. The Sabres scored six straight goals overall to build a 7–3 advantage, a cushion that appeared comfortable until Anaheim’s late response. Cutter Gauthier scored his second of the game, and Tristan Luneau and Beckett Sennecke added goals with the Ducks’ goaltender pulled for an extra attacker. Anaheim got within one with about half a minute remaining, but Buffalo held on.

What the scoreline reveals

The offensive fireworks should not hide the warning signs. Buffalo produced enough sustained pressure to overturn an early deficit, yet its defensive control deteriorated as Anaheim pushed with an extra skater. For the Ducks, a furious finish did not erase the damage of conceding six unanswered goals. The result also illustrates why a natural hat trick is more than a personal milestone: Thompson’s burst changed the game’s direction at the moment Buffalo needed it.

The NHL’s official game report confirms the event date as October 29, 2026, the final score, the scoring sequence and the players involved. The October 30 Reuters report independently corroborates the result.

Watch the actual hat trick

For verified event footage, see the Buffalo Sabres’ official NHL video: “BUF@ANA: Thompson has a hat trick against the Ducks”. The club’s page identifies the game as October 29, 2026. This is a link to the rights holder’s player, not a downloaded clip or an untested third-party embed.

Featured image: Illustrative ice hockey arena, not footage from the October 29 Sabres–Ducks game. Photo by Anders Krøgh Jørgensen / Unsplash, used under the Unsplash License.

Sources: NHL official game recap; Sabres official event video; Reuters, October 30.

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