Storylines
1. Winging it
Normally a center, Sabres forward Tage Thompson has taken just three total faceoffs in the last four games.
Dec. 31 at Dallas, first-line wingers Jason Zucker and Alex Tuch filled in for Thompson at the dot. And in the last three games, Dylan Cozens has elevated to first-line center and gone 36-for-52 (69%) on draws.
For Thompson, the shift to wing is the result of a lingering (and undisclosed) injury.
“He has been dealing with something,” said Sabres coach Lindy Ruff. “It’s the reason he hasn’t been in the middle. He’s getting better, and he’s still playing, so give him a lot of credit for that.”
Monday versus Washington, Thompson skated a season-high 23:48 and, in the second period,…