BOSTON – In the regular season, Sabres center Tage Thompson endured five stretches of at least four games in which he did not score a goal.

Even the most dynamic scorers – Thompson just cracked the 40-goal mark for the third time in four seasons – are streaky. It’s normal. They’re not going to score every game.

Of course, on the grand stage of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, everything is magnified. A short four-game drought like Thompson has entering Game 6 of the Sabres’ first-round series against the Bruins might feel like an eternity.

Even without huge offensive contributions from Thompson for much of the series, the Sabres are on the verge of advancing. They lead the best-of-seven series 3-2 and can end the Bruins’ season tonight in TD Garden.

While he has created offense throughout the best-of-seven series, Thompson hasn’t scored since Game 1, when his late two-goal outburst ignited the Sabres.

As the series has progressed, Thompson has found less room to maneuver. Following two pointless outings, he registered one assist in each of the last two games. His shot and attempt totals have dropped since pumping seven on goal and attempting 11 in Game 1.

Still, Thompson, 28, hasn’t lost any confidence.

“To be honest with you, I’ve been really happy with my game,” Thompson said following Thursday’s practice in KeyBank Center in Buffalo. “I don’t want to be comfortable. You always want to strive for more and to be better. But I think my game as a whole has been really solid.”

Thompson, one of 13 Sabres who has made their postseason debut, knew things would be tighter.

“Playoffs, you’re not going to get as many opportunities and as many looks,” he said. “Just everyone’s so dialed in defensively and making sure they’re taking time and space away, it’s a lot harder to get shots off, get to the net, and you just got to find ways.”

Thompson, like many of his teammates, has found other ways to contribute. While playing a season-high 24 minutes, 30 seconds on Tuesday, he mustered just two shots on goal on seven attempts but blocked a season-high four shots.

“I think everyone’s got to do everything that’s going to help you win,” Thompson said. “I think those are the little things that stack up over a game – blocking shots, hits.”

In Tuesday’s 2-1 overtime loss, goalie Jeremy Swayman stymied Thompson late in regulation, keeping Game 5 tied. In the extra session, sniper David Pastrnak got a step on Sabres defenseman Mattias Samuelsson and won the game.

Entering the night, there was pressure on the Bruins’ top scorers to step up and save their season. Pastrnak hadn’t scored in three games.

“A game ago, (the Bruins) were talking about how they needed more out of (Morgan) Geekie and more out of Pastrnak,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said. “This is the time of the year where, I think, the attention toward your best players always come to a highlight if one guy hasn’t had goals for two or three games.”

Secondary scoring, like it did in the regular season, has helped boost the Sabres. So far, 10 different players have scored in the playoffs. Defenseman Bowen Byram and winger Alex Tuch have each scored a team-leading three goals.

“Our best players, we’re depending on them to be difference-makers,” Ruff said. “But the cool thing about our team all year long has been that if the top guys weren’t producing for a few games, we had other guys.”

The 6-foot-6, 220-pound Thompson isn’t frustrated – “I’m not too concerned,” he said – by his short goalless stretch. He said he likes “a challenge.”

He possesses a lethal shot and can undress defenders by slickly stickhandling. But to get back on the score sheet, he knows he might have to score a dirty goal at the net.

“I think everyone in the room wants to play in games that are hard and games that you got to fight through and compete and get gritty and get around the net,” he said. “I think that’s the way you’re going to score goals in playoffs. They’re not going to be typically wide open in the slot shooting it.”

For Thompson, reaching the postseason has fulfilled a dream. As he spoke Thursday, the excitement in his voice for another crack at the Bruins was evident.

“This is the kind of hockey everyone wants to play, when something’s on the line, and you got to show up and make a play to help your team win,” he said. “I think we got the guys in the room that are those guys. I have full confidence in this group.”

Sabres recall prospects from Rochester; Stanley questionable for Game 6

The Sabres have recalled seven prospects from the Rochester Americans to serve as Black Aces – extra players during a playoff run – after their AHL affiliate’s season ended.

Goalie Devon Levi, forwards Konsta Helenius, Riley Fiddler-Schultz and Anton Wahlberg and defensemen Ryan Johnson, Vsevolod Komarov and Radim Mrtka have all joined the Sabres.

The players will practice in a separate group from the Sabres, who play Game 6 of their first-round playoff series tonight against the Bruins. The Sabres lead the best-of-seven series 3-2.

The Amerks’ season ended Sunday when they fell to the Toronto Marlies in the best-of-three play-in round in the Calder Cup Playoffs.

“It’s a great opportunity for those young guys to come up and be part of the experience,” Sabres coach Lindy Ruff said following Thursday’s practice in KeyBank Center in Buffalo. “With the number of players we have here right now, there’s a point where you have too many and you don’t want it to be a distraction. I think we’ve got it pretty well mapped out where, they’re going to get their workouts, we’re gonna try to keep our game people separated.”

Ruff said the Sabres could need to utilize one of those youngsters.

“At any time, one of those guys could be a guy that may need to be called on, so it’s more than just coming here and watching,” he said. “There’s an opportunity, if the right guy comes out of the lineup, that one of those guys could play.”

In other news, defenseman Logan Stanley missed Thursday’s practice because he’s sick. Michael Kesselring practiced in his spot alongside Conor Timmins.

His status for Game 6 is unclear. Ruff said Stanley, who watched part of practice from the bench, “was worse yesterday.”

“Better today, but then you’re missing a couple days and you haven’t ate,” he said. “We’re gonna have to judge where the energy level is too at the same time.”