Benson picked up two assists in Friday's 4-2 win over the Flyers.
He helped set up two Jack Quinn tallies, the first of which proved to be the game-winner. Benson has produced back-to-back two-point efforts and has four multi-point performances in the last 12 games, but he was held off the scoresheet entirely in the other eight contests. On the season, the 18-year-old has chipped in nine goals and 27 points over 66 games.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Lights lamp twice in win
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Benson scored two goals on his only two shots on net while adding four PIM, two hits, one blocked shot and a plus-2 rating in Thursday's 4-0 win over the Islanders.
The 13th overall pick in the 2023 Draft is beginning to make an impact in the NHL. Benson has posted back-to-back multi-point performances, racking up three goals and five points, and remarkably the 18-year-old led all Buffalo forwards in TOI at even strength during Thursday's victory. Benson has nine goals and 23 points in 56 games on the season, but he could be gearing up for a big finish to the campaign.
Benson produced a goal and two assists in Tuesday's 7-3 win over the Red Wings.
All three points came in the first period as the Sabres grabbed a 4-1 lead they would never relinquish. Benson snapped a seven-game point drought with the performance, and it was his first multi-point effort since Dec. 21. The 18-year-old rookie's inconsistency is understandable, but he's seeing top-six shifts at even strength and could be worth a roster spot in deep fantasy leagues if he begins to get onto the scoresheet a little more often. Through 55 NHL games this season, Benson's collected seven goals and 21 points.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Supplies assist in low-scoring game
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Benson added an assist in Friday's 2-1 win over the Blue Jackets.
Benson is showing flashes of his potential as the 13th overall pick from the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 5-foot-9 prospect has six goals and 11 assists through 46 games and 14:50 of average ice time, but expectations should be tempered as he's just 18 years old and trying to prove he belongs after making the grand leap from the WHL directly to hockey's highest level of competition.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Scores Monday
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Benson scored a goal on three shots in Monday's 4-3 loss to the Ducks.
Benson tied the game 3-3 in the second period, deflecting a Henri Jokiharju shot past John Gibson. The goal is just Benson's second in his last 23 games and his second point in 17 contests. It's been a struggle offensively for the rookie after a fast start to his NHL career, as he's dropped into a bottom-six role. The 18-year-old Benson now has six goals and 16 points through 44 games this season.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Picks up two points in win
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Benson scored a goal on three shots and added an assist in Friday's 5-2 win over the Golden Knights.
Benson's goal at 9:29 of the third period was the game-winner, and he also set up Alex Tuch on an insurance tally two minutes later. With three points over his last two games, Benson appears to be benefiting from being part of a healthier top six for the Sabres. The rookie winger has produced 10 points, 31 shots on net, 14 PIM and an even plus-minus rating through his first 21 outings.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Nets lone goal in loss
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Benson scored a goal on three shots and added two PIM in Wednesday's 5-1 loss to the Avalanche.
Benson got the Sabres on the board late in the first period, burying a rebound off a Rasmus Dahlin shot. The Sabres played better over the final 40 minutes but couldn't build any momentum in the loss. Benson snapped a six-game point drought and now has three goals, five assists, 28 shots on net, 14 PIM and a minus-1 rating through 20 appearances. The 18-year-old is reportedly still in consideration for Canada's World Junior Championship roster, but it seems unlikely the Sabres will let him play in the tournament since he's currently in a top-six role for the club.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Two points in defeat
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Benson tallied a goal and an assist in Thursday's 6-4 loss to St. Louis.
Benson cut the Sabres' deficit to 3-2 in the second period with a quick wrist shot off a faceoff before adding a secondary assist on John-Jason Peterka's tally in the third. It's the second goal of the season for the 18-year-old Benson -- he has five points (two goals, three assists) in seven games since returning from a seven-game absence due to a lower-body injury. Overall, he's up to two goals and seven points across 13 games in his rookie campaign.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Playing Friday
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Benson will play in his 10th game of the season Friday versus Pittsburgh, per Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News.
The Sabres are burning the first season of Benson's entry-level contract, as the diminutive forward has been productive in his role on the second line of late. Benson has a goal and five points in nine games and will line up alongside Casey Mittelstadt and John-Jason Peterka, as well as seeing second unit power-play time.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Dazzles with first NHL goal
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Benson scored a goal Wednesday in a 4-3 overtime loss to Washington.
It was a highlight-reel goal and a great way to mark his first career NHL snipe. Benson took a pass in the bottom of the left circle from Victor Olofsson, skated into the slot and put the puck between his legs before roofing from behind his body past Darcy Kuemper. Benson (18 years, 194 days) became the fourth-youngest player in franchise history at the time of his first snipe. He's behind Pierre Turgeon, Rasmus Dahlin and Nikita Zadorov.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Back in lineup Friday
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Benson (lower body) was taken off injured reserve and is expected to play Friday in Winnipeg, according to Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News.
This will be Benson's seventh game of the season. Buffalo coach Don Granato wants to see how productive he can be over the next three games before deciding whether to burn a year on Benson's entry-level contract or to send him back to the WHL before his 10th game. Benson has two assists thus far. He will replace Lukas Rousek in the lineup.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Nabs helper in return
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Benson logged an assist, two hits and two PIM in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Jets.
Benson saw 14:43 of ice time in a second-line role in his return from a lower-body injury that cost him seven contests. The helper was his first point since a two-assist game Oct. 14 versus the Islanders. The 18-year-old has three helpers, seven shots on net, eight PIM and a minus-1 rating through seven outings. Benson has two more games to make a strong impression before the Sabres have to decide if he's going back to WHL Wenatchee or staying in the NHL with the first year of his entry-level contract active.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Expected to play during road trip
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Benson (lower body) has a "good chance" to play during the Sabres' upcoming three-game road trip according to coach Don Granato, Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News reports Wednesday.
Benson will need to be activated off injured reserve before he can suit up for the Sabres, a move that will almost certainly be offset by placing Tage Thompson (upper body) on IR. In six games this season, the 18-year-old Benson has garnered two assists, six shots and six PIM while averaging 13:17 of ice time.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Placed on injured reserve
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The Sabres put Benson (lower body) on injured reserve Friday, Sabres insider Joe Yerdon reports.
Benson is week-to-week at this time. The 18-year-old, who was selected 13th overall in the 2023 Draft, has picked up two assists in six games with the Sabres this season. Don't be surprised if Buffalo sends Benson to the WHL when he is ready to return.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Considered week-to-week
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Benson is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
With Zach Benson facing an extended absence, the recently recalled Brandon Biro could get an opportunity to fill a top-six role for the foreseeable future. Benson, who's picked up two helpers through six contests this season, could land on injured reserve in the coming days.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Back in lineup Tuesday
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Benson (lower body) will return to the lineup Tuesday versus the Senators, Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News reports.
Benson will return after a two-game absence, bumping Tyson Jost from the lineup. The 18-year-old Benson has produced two assists and four shots on goal over four games while filling a bottom-six role to begin his NHL career.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Not playing Monday
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Benson (lower body) won't play Monday against the Canadiens, Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550 reports.
Benson will sit out a second straight game after being injured in a 4-3 loss to Calgary on Thursday. However, he could be an option for Tuesday's contest against Ottawa. The 18-year-old forward has two assists and four shots on goal through four outings this campaign.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Unavailable Saturday
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Benson (lower body) won't play Saturday against the Islanders, Jourdon LaBarber of the Sabres' official site reports.
Benson is still dealing with some soreness, so he will be held out of the lineup as a precaution. The 18-year-old forward has two assists and four shots on goal in four games this season.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Practicing Saturday
Rotowire
Per Bill Hoppe of the Olean Times Herald, Benson (lower-body) returned to practice Saturday.
Benson was unavailable Friday after he was injured during Thursday's 4-3 loss to Calgary. The 18-year-old has two assists in four games this season. Benson was selected 13th overall in the 2023 Draft and is averaging 14:13 of ice time, including 1:22 on the power play.
