The Sabres center erupted for four goals in the first period against the Blue Jackets, tying an all-time NHL record for most goals in one period. Thompson added an assist, powering Buffalo to a quick 6-0 lead. He secured a hat trick less than 13 minutes into the period, his second of the season.
Thompson wasn’t done there. He added a fifth goal in the second period to help the Sabres pile on. Buffalo would win 9-4.
Only 17 players had ever scored four goals in a period entering Wednesday, and only one had done so since 2000. Patrick Marleau recorded a four-goal period in January 2017.
Before Marleau, the most recent player to score four goals in a period was Mario Lemieux in 1997.
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Thompson’s fifth goal made him the sixth player to record a five-goal game this century, though he’s already the second in this calendar year. San Jose’s Timo Meier scored five goals against the Kings in January.
While Thompson had the type of performance most players dream of, he kept his night in perspective in postgame comments.
Thompson was a late bloomer after landing in Buffalo as part of the 2018 Ryan O’Reilly trade. The former Blues prospect broke out with 68 points on 38 goals and 30 assists last season, and he’s now up to 40 points on 21 goals and 19 assists through only 26 games this season.
Only two players - Jason Robertson and Connor McDavid - have more goals than Thompson this season.
Most goals scored in an NHL game
That historical achievement belongs to Joe Malone of the Quebec Bulldogs, a record that spans over 100 years. That feat was accomplished all the way back on January 31, 1920.
