Thompson stars as Sabres clinch Atlantic title with a 5-1 victory over Blackhawks

CHICAGO (AP) — Tage Thompson scored twice to reach 40 goals on the season, and the Buffalo Sabres clinched the Atlantic Division title by defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 5-1 on Monday night.

Alex Tuch had a goal and an assist as Buffalo (50-23-8) posted its fourth consecutive win. Ryan McLeod and Josh Norris also scored, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 15 saves.

Buffalo earned its first division title since the 2009-10 season and seventh overall. It reached 50 wins for the third time in franchise history, also accomplishing the feat in 2005-06 and 2006-07.

The Sabres were in the mix for the top spot in the Eastern Conference before Carolina secured the position by earning a point in a shootout loss at Philadelphia.

Ryan Greene scored for Chicago (28-39-14), and Spencer Knight made 21 saves. The last-place Blackhawks dropped to 7-17-7 in their last 31 games.

The game was tied at 1 before Thompson scored from the low slot 13 minutes into the second after stealing the puck from Blackhawks defenseman Louis Crevier.

Shortly after Buffalo killed off a 5-on-3 power play in the third, Tuch got a stretch pass from Rasmus Dahlin and finished the breakaway for a 3-1 lead. It was Tuch's third goal in four games and No. 32 on the year.

Thompson scored again at 11:13 on a one-timer off a pass from Dahlin. Thompson has three seasons with at least 40 goals, including a career-high 47 in the 2022-23 season.

Chicago jumped in front on Greene's short-handed goal 3:58 into the first. Greene also scored during Saturday's 5-3 loss to St. Louis, stopping a 12-game drought.

Norris responded with his 12th goal for Buffalo, beating Knight over the goaltender's right shoulder with 58 seconds left in the first. Norris has two goals and six assists in his last seven games.

Both teams finish the regular season at home on Wednesday night. The Sabres face the Dallas Stars, and the Blackhawks play the San Jose Sharks.

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

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Spencer Knight makes a save during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres in Chicago, Monday, April 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago Blackhawks' Ryan Greene (20) celebrates with teammates at the bench after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres in Chicago, Monday, April 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Buffalo Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen makes a save during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks in Chicago, Monday, April 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Buffalo Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, left, makes a save during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks in Chicago, Monday, April 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Buffalo Sabres' Tage Thompson (72) celebrates with teammates at the bench after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks in Chicago, Monday, April 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Boston Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet was battered by the Minnesota Twins for 11 runs — 10 earned — and nine hits in 1 2/3 innings Monday night.

Crochet, a two-time All-Star who finished second in AL Cy Young Award voting last season, became the first Red Sox pitcher to allow 10 runs in less than two innings.

“My command, as a whole, has been spotty," Crochet said following a 13-6 loss. “I've gotten away with it a little this early in the year, but tonight they made me pay. It was weak contact, hard contact, walks, hit by pitch — a little bit of everything."

The 26-year-old left-hander gave up four runs, three earned, in a 31-pitch first inning. Minnesota scored seven more in the second before Crochet was removed with two outs and Boston trailing 11-0.

“I don’t really have one thing to point to,” Crochet said. “I feel like I had a good approach. It was all pitch types that I felt like they were absolutely smothering."

Victor Caratini hit his first home run for the Twins in the second, a three-run drive off the facing of the third deck in left field. Light-hitting infielder Ryan Kreidler ended Crochet's night with his third career home run, a solo shot into the second deck in left.

“As a manager, it’s hard to watch. It was kind of like, OK, when are we going to take him out, you know?” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “At the same time, you still have to cover innings and keep the bullpen quote-unquote fresh, knowing that there’s two more games in the series.”

Crochet walked three, hit a batter with a pitch and failed to record a strikeout for the first time in 68 career starts. His season ERA climbed to 7.58 after he entered 2-1 with a 3.12 ERA through three starts.

“I'm just going to flush it as best I can and move on to the next one,” Crochet said. “They had a good approach.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet (35) delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins Monday, April 13, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet (35) winds up to deliver during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins Monday, April 13, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet (35) stands in the mound as Minnesota Twins' Ryan Kreidler (5) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game Monday, April 13, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Boston Red Sox starter Garrett Crochet, front right, hands the ball to manager Alex Cora (13) for a pitching change during the second inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Monday, April 13, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)