Sabres' Tage Thompson to return vs. Red Wings

Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson will return from a nine-game absence on Tuesday against the visiting Detroit Red Wings.

Thompson has been sidelined since sustaining an upper-body injury after blocking a shot from defenseman Charlie McAvoy in Buffalo's 5-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on Nov. 14. The Sabres lost six of nine games (3-5-1) in his absence.

Thompson took a full morning skate on Tuesday while playing win on a line with Jeff Skinner and Casey Mittelstadt. Afterward, he said he was ready to return to game action.

"I'm excited to get back on the ice with the boys," Thompson said, per The Buffalo News. "You always want to be on the ice helping the team and fortunately it healed pretty quick, and I get to be on the ice tonight."

Thompson, 26, has 12 points (six goals, six assists) in 16 games this season. He recorded career-high totals in goals (47), assists (47) and points (94) in 78 games in 2022-23.

Thompson has totaled 209 points (109 goals, 100 assists) in 317 career games with the St. Louis Blues and Sabres. He was selected by the Blues with the 26th overall pick of the 2016 NHL Draft before being traded to Buffalo in a package deal for Ryan O'Reilly.