Dahlin, Thompson each have goal and assist as Sabres beat Canucks 3-2

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Rasmus Dahlin and Tage Thompson each had a goal and an assist, and the Buffalo Sabres beat the struggling Vancouver Canucks 3-2 on Thursday night.

Zach Benson also scored for the Sabres and Alex Lyon stopped 29 shots as Buffalo won its second straight following a three-game skid.

Kiefer Sherwood and Max Sasson scored for the Canucks, and Thatcher Demko made 12 saves in his return from a lower-body injury he suffered on Nov. 11. Vancouver has lost six of its last seven (1-5-1).

Sasson gave the Canucks a 2-1 lead 6:15 into the second, but Thompson tied it nearly 3 minutes later and Benson’s power-play goal with 5:14 to go in the period gave the Sabres the lead.

Vancouver fell to 1-13-0 when trailing after two periods.

Dahlin got the the Canucks on the scoreboard first, scoring 7 1/2 minutes into the game.

Sherwood tied it with 11 seconds remaining in the first to snap his 10-game goal-scoring drought with his team-high 13th of the season.

The Canucks were without star center Elias Pettersson, who missed a second straight game with an upper-body injury.

The Sabres were missing offensive powerhouse Alex Tuch due to illness. The right wing was tied with Thompson for the team lead in points (26) heading into the game. Trevor Kuntar slotted into the lineup, making his NHL debut one day after signing a one-year, two-way contract with Buffalo.

Sabres: At Seattle on Sunday night.

Canucks: At New Jersey on Sunday to open a five-game trip.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Vancouver Canucks' Kiefer Sherwood, left, stops Buffalo Sabres' Tyson Kozak from putting the puck into the empty net during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)

Buffalo Sabres' Conor Timmins, left, and Vancouver Canucks' Jake DeBrusk, right, battle in front of Sabres goalie Alex Lyon during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)

Vancouver Canucks' Brock Boeser, right, tries to check Buffalo Sabres' Jack Quinn off the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)

Buffalo Sabres' Zach Benson, left, celebrates with teammate Josh Doan after scoring a goal against the Vancouver Canucks during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)

Buffalo Sabres goalie Alex Lyon, left, and Bowen Byram share a laugh after defeating the Vancouver Canucks in an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Nikola Jokic had 36 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists as the Denver Nuggets breezed past the Sacramento Kings 136-105 on Thursday night for their franchise-record 11th straight road win.

Peyton Watson scored 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting for the Nuggets (18-6), who shot 59% from the field and completed a 4-0 trip. Cameron Johnson added 16 and Jonas Valanciunas had 15 points and six rebounds off the bench.

Jokic made 14 of 16 shots from the floor, including both his 3-pointers, and went 6 for 8 at the free-throw line. He did not play in the fourth quarter.

Jamal Murray and Tim Hardaway Jr. had 11 points apiece for Denver, which hasn't lost away from home since a 109-107 defeat at Portland on Oct. 31.

Malik Monk scored 18 points off the bench to pace the Kings (6-19), who have lost six of seven. Russell Westbrook had 17 and Maxime Raynaud finished with 15 points and nine rebounds.

The score was tied at 13 before the Nuggets went on a 24-6 run in the first quarter. Jokic shot 6 for 7 from the field and had 16 points in the first 12 minutes.

His 3-pointer with 32 seconds remaining in the second sent the Nuggets into halftime with their biggest lead to that point at 77-54. They started the third period on a 10-0 run, with eight points by Jokic, and led by 37 in the fourth.

Kings guard DeMar DeRozan moved into 23rd place on the NBA career scoring list with two free throws in the second quarter, passing Vince Carter (25,728 points).

Aaron Gordon (hamstring) sat out his ninth consecutive game for Denver, and Christian Braun (ankle sprain) missed his 13th straight.

Domantas Sabonis remained sidelined with a left knee injury for Sacramento, and Dennis Schroder sat out with left hip soreness, missing his seventh game in a row. Zach LaVine missed his third game this season with a sore right thumb.

Nuggets: Host the Houston Rockets on Monday.

Kings: At the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) is guarded by Sacramento Kings center Maxime Raynaud (42) and guard Demar Derozan (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)

Sacramento Kings forward Precious Achiuwa (9) discusses an official's call with referee Justin Van Duyne during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)

Denver Nuggets guard Jalen Pickett (24) drives around Sacramento Kings center Maxime Raynaud during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) shoots over Sacramento Kings forward Precious Achiuwa (9) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) drives past Sacramento Kings forward Precious Achiuwa during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Randall Benton)