LGR4GM

Benson does so much on the first goal by Greenway. When he gets the sticks lifts on the back check he immediately taps the puck into space for himself. The defender (A) who lost the puck turns towards that way and Benson is already pushing the puck under him the opposite way. This results in that defender finishing his turn to find Benson a full stick length away while the defenders momentum pulls him further away. Benson continues on the angle he has because it cuts the hands of the nearest islander who is in a full sprint backwards (the trailer), this gives Benson the body position he needs. After he has the step he continues towards the defender (B) who is facing him, at this point Benson has neutralized 2 islanders. Once that B defender drifts out wide enough for Benson, he cuts hard back towards the center of the ice and for a 2nd time cuts the hands of the trailing defender. At this point the only defender in a position to do much is the B defender who steps into Benson and allows the trailer to also get to Benson. However Benson has created space. The B defender has to slide to the middle and trailer is also in the middle. The A defender he turned around is still out of the play but has to slide out as Benson slides into the middle. Again we now have 2 players Benson pulled to the middle of the ice and the A defender he beat has to keep moving further outside to maintain his gap as Benson goes east west while being engaged. Once Benson fights through the double check he knows that there is space where he cut from and lays the puck into it. This forces that A defender to come all the way across the ice but there is no one to take the space he vacates except, Greenway. Greenway takes the pass from Mitts and again you see him cut the hands of the trailing defender and we get a goal. It all happens because Benson gets 1 guy turned around, then attacks towards the B defender while cutting the hands of the trailer, once engaged with the other defender he cuts hard towards the middle and using his size, slips through the double check to lay the puck back across into space. When I talk about manipulation this is what I mean. His route is planned to move people and give him options. By turning the A defender, cutting the hands of the trailer and driving at an angle towards the B defender, Benson is forcing those players to react to him.

Diggs is getting the ball so much because he is the only receiver who consistently gets open. The Bills offense isn't good because Knox is average, Gabe Davis should be a 3wr, and the Bills truly do not have a legit #2 wr anyone needs to consistently worry about. What you wrote here is total bullcrap and is typical Buffalo "blame the good players" mentality.

According to almost everyone on this website, the JJP - Cozens - Olofsson line is the 2nd line and therefore he is in the top 6. I think the time to trade him is long past and teams know what he is now.

I need a stiff drink...

Omfg Okay, now it's over.

I do not understand the love he receives. He's average.

You might get permanently blocked. No.

... did... did you not live through 13 seconds?

Josh Allen "***** it, Morris down there somewhere"

This game is trash

If olofsson scores in 20 games, what does he bring in the other 62?

Hey! Dorsey did good!

Dorsey is just dumb.

And then what happened?

Someone convince Dorsey is good, please. Because he cannot adjust for *****.

Right now olofsson is playing below replacement level.

I would, cuz I just don't believe Savoie would be worse.

In 2019 the Sabres won their first 2 games by a combined score of 10 to 3. They finished the season with 68 points and missed the playoffs. In 2021 the Sabres won their first 3 games by a combined score of 12 to 4. They finished the season with 75 points and missed the playoffs. In 2022 the Sabres won 4 of their first 5 games by a combined score of 22 to 11. They finished the season with 91 points and missed the playoffs. My point is simple, give it a little more time. Winning in the first few games doesn't always meaning winning all year.

xgf isn't everything but... Benson leads the team.

The short version is the Sabres are not playing good enough. I'm glad they have 2 days off because I think that will help. Also, having 1 line showing the rest up is good, internal competition.

Clifton had his foot kicked from under him on the first goal.

I think some players can't sharpen their skates so to speak, without live game action. I think the mistake was not using 3 preseason games to ice the full roster and shake the rust off.

I'm with you. Obviously some things to clean up and some players need to get things going but, I'd much rather be the Sabres than the Islanders.