Thompson scores again for Team USA in win over Kazakhstan

(WGR Sports Radio 550) - Team USA clinched a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2025 World Championship with a 6-1 win over Kazakhstan on Sunday.

Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson scored another goal for the U.S., and should have had an assist, giving him five goals and two assists for seven points in the tournament.

In the first three games in Denmark, Thompson had no goals and an assist. Over his last three games, Thompson has had five goals and an assist for six points.

His five goals are fifth overall for the tournament, and leads Team USA.

The assist he should’ve had came when he was deep in his own zone and was pressured. He calmly lofted the puck out to center ice to Drew O’Connor (Vancouver Canucks), who sent in Matty Beniers (Seattle Kraken) alone.

On his goal, Thompson attacked the middle of the ice with speed. Zeev Buium (Minnesota Wild) had just made a terrific rush and found Thompson, who picked the far corner on goalie Sergei Kudryavtsev.

Buium was taken 12th overall by the Wild in last June’s NHL Draft, and Minnesota wanted him so badly, they traded up with the Philadelphia Flyers one spot in the draft order for him.

The 19-year-old finished his sophomore season with the Denver Pioneers and arrived for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, playing four games for Minnesota against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Thompson’s goal was the third goal Team USA scored on Kudryavesev in the second period. They ended up with five in the period, sending him to the bench with 21 saves on 26 shots in 40 minutes.

Maxim Pavlenko played the final 20 minutes for Kazakhstan, allowing one goal on 12 shots.

The U.S. didn't need Thompson to play a lot, so the Americans rolled four lines. Thompson only played 14:41 in the win, registering four shots on goal.

Thompson has 30 shots overall for the tournament. That's seven more than Canada forward Nate MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche), who is second.

U.S. goalie Jeremy Swayman (Boston Bruins) made 16 saves for the win. In three games, he has a 1.95 goals-against average and an .875 save percentage, and has also won all three of his starts.

Jackson LaCombe is a defenseman for the Anaheim Ducks. The 24-year-old had a goal and an assist in this game, and was named Player of the Game for Team USA.

This season, LaCombe had 14 goals and 29 assists for 43 points in 75 games for the Ducks. He was taken in the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft out of the University of Minnesota.

The U.S. is still in third place in Group B with a record of 4-1-0-1 and 14 points. Czechia is 4-1-0-0 and also has 14 points, while Switzerland leads at 5-0-1-0 and 16 points. They have one game left against Kazakhstan on Tuesday, while Team USA plays Czechia on Tuesday.

Czechia also has a game Monday against Germany.

If Team USA can jump into second place in the group, they’ll likely play Finland from Group A. If they stay in third place, they’ll likely have to go against Canada or Sweden.

Frank Nazar (Chicago Blackhawks), Michael Kesselring (Utah Mammoth) and Zach Werenski (Columbus Blue Jackets) had the other goals for the Americans.