Thompson is on standby as an emergency injury replacement for Team USA in the 4 Nations championship game against Canada.
The new deal ends a programming blackout impacting New York Knicks, Rangers, Islanders and New Jersey Devils fans in the tri-state area
It also whetted his appetite for more best-on-best hockey. Miro Heiskanen, Rasmus Ristolainen and Jani Hakanpää all missed the 4 Nations to injury, so competition for the Finnish Olympic roster will be more fierce. Vaakanainen acquitted himself well enough to at least be on the bubble, though.
The Sabres (23-27-5) surged to a 5-0 lead in the first period, securing their fifth win in six games. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen contributed 26 saves, while Ryan McLeod added two goals and Jason Zucker notched three assists.
For three grueling, up-tempo practices coming out of the 4 Nations Face-Off break, the Buffalo Sabres focused on pushing the pace. They wanted to hit the ground running to begin the final stretch of the season, which they enter with lofty expectations. It had to start with Game No. 1 against the New York Rangers.
New York Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette had some blunt words regarding star goalie Igor Shesterkin's performance in Saturday's 8-2 blowout loss to the Buffalo Sabres.