‘Lack of respect for the game of hockey’: Tage Thompson on Sabres’ performance vs. Flames

Despite a couple of decent performances earlier in the week, the Buffalo Sabres are seemingly back to square one, and one of their stars isn’t happy about it.

The Sabres fell to the Calgary Flames, 6-2, on Wednesday night, marking the team’s 13th loss of the 2025-26 campaign, and ninth in regulation. The defeat came just a couple of days after Buffalo beat up Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers 5-1.

Forward Tage Thompson didn’t mince his words about his team’s lack of effort, despite having won back-to-back games heading into Wednesday’s affair.

“We didn’t control things that were within our control tonight and that’s puck battles and intensity,” Thompson said. “I just think we went into every one-on-one battle just casual, just soft….It was just a lack of respect for the game of hockey, thinking you’re just gonna go out there casual and the puck’s just gonna find you. And it’s not the case.”

The Sabres were outshot in the game 35-30. They managed to erase a 2-0 deficit in the second period before giving up four unanswered goals in the third.

Thompson also noted how the team took a massive step back after a couple of solid wins, including an overtime win over the Detroit Red Wings last Saturday.

“I think we get a little too high on ourselves after a couple of wins. We think we’re better than we are instead of remembering what got us those wins. I thought the other game against Edmonton, I thought we were really hard to play against…I thought, tonight, we were really easy, really light on the puck.”

With the loss to Calgary, Buffalo has dropped six of the team’s last eight games.

Thompson continues to be the most productive player on the roster. Including a goal on Wednesday, the 28-year-old has scored in four straight games, amassing six points over that span. He leads the team in goals (10) and points (18) through 20 games this season.

However, despite his ability to rack up the points, Thompson can only do so much for a team and a franchise that has been unable to earn the respect it needs to be taken seriously for well over a decade.

The Sabres (7-9-4) are set to host Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night.