Thompson and Noesen Settle Scores in an Intense Duel
In a tense encounter, Sabres center Tage Thompson and New Jersey Devils forward Stefan Noesen faced off directly to settle old disputes. The game, which culminated in a 5-0 victory for the Devils, was the perfect setting for this anticipated duel. The rivalry between both players dates back to February, when Noesen hit Thompson with an elbow to the head. This incident generated an atmosphere of anticipation for the first subsequent match.Thompson, who leads the Sabres with 12 goals, rejected the help of his teammates, preferring to take care of the situation personally. Devils coach Sheldon Keefe anticipated what was coming, revealing that Noesen had informed him about the possibility of the fight.“I think we all know what happened last year. I really didn’t like the hit, and I talked to him,” Thompson commented on his approach to Noesen during warm-ups, where the possibility of fighting during the game was raised. “He said he’d give me one, which I respect.”
Tage Thompson
During a face-off in the Sabres’ zone, both players dropped their gloves and squared off. They exchanged blows in a fight that lasted about 30 seconds, ending with Noesen falling to the ice and the fans celebrating Thompson’s performance. Both received major five-minute penalties for fighting. The fight seemed to revitalize both teams. Connor Brown, Sabres forward, commented: “I thought Nase did a great job against a much bigger guy. On our bench, we felt the momentum it generated.” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff praised both players for settling their differences.“He’s an honorable guy. He let me know what might happen and wanted my opinion,” the coach added. “I think the opportunity to get your best player off the ice is something you take without hesitation.”
Sheldon Keefe
Noesen’s hit on Thompson generated controversy, especially because of the way it happened. Thompson went for the puck at the Devils’ blue line, when Noesen hit him with his elbow. Noesen was ejected and received a penalty for rough play, but was not sanctioned by the NHL. Thompson’s teammates were criticized for not defending him at the time. Ruff commented before the game: “We spent time last year on this issue. That issue is really behind me. I think the way our team has handled every situation really, from that moment on, we learned a hard lesson.”“I have a lot of respect for that,” Ruff said. “He was the guy who hit him; the fact that he wanted to go after him, I thought it was great.”
Lindy Ruff
