Benson scored a goal in Thursday's 6-5 overtime loss to the Avalanche.
Benson found the twine for the third time over his last five games, and the 19-year-old prospect continues to show glimpses of what he can accomplish despite multiple extended goal droughts this season. If he can remove the streakiness from his game, he could take his game to the next level. Benson has notched seven points (four goals, three assists) in 15 games since the beginning of December.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Scores, takes six shots
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Benson scored a goal and took six shots in Friday's 6-2 win over the Blackhawks.
Benson broke the deadlock for the Sabres and found the twine midway through the first period with a tip-in that would be the first of Buffalo's four first-period goals. He's scored in back-to-back games and is up to six goals on the campaign, with three of those tallies coming since the beginning of December. His bottom-six role limits his opportunities to produce, but the 19-year-old prospect is certainly showing promise when given the chance to play.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Finds twine in win
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Benson scored a goal on two shots in Monday's 7-1 win over the Islanders.
Benson briefly took a turn on the top line earlier in the month, but he's since returned to middle-six duties. The 19-year-old has two goals and five helpers over his last 11 outings. For the season, Benson is up to five goals, 11 points, 41 shots on net, 30 PIM and a minus-6 rating across 29 contests. He's young enough to have some upside in deep redraft formats, but his highest fantasy value comes in dynasty.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Earns helper with move to top line
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Benson notched an assist in Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Maple Leafs.
The Sabres are in a brutal skid, so lines may shuffle frequently until they get on track. In Sunday's game, Benson was promoted to play alongside Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch, setting up the latter's goal at 2:46 of the first period. The 19-year-old Benson has four points over seven contests in December, giving him a total of 10 points, 34 shots on net and 28 PIM through 25 outings this season. He's talented, but he's often been limited to the middle six, so fantasy managers may want to wait and see if his top-line turn lasts more than a handful of games.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Buries goal Monday
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Benson scored a goal on two shots and added two PIM in Monday's 6-5 shootout loss to the Red Wings.
Benson ended a 10-game goal drought with the tally. He had been warming up with four assists over his previous five contests, and he's now logged multiple shots on net in five of his last six games. The 19-year-old winger is up to four goals, five assists, 31 shots on net, 26 PIM and a minus-1 rating through 22 outings this season. Benson is seeing steady usage in the middle six.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Nabs helper Thursday
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Benson posted an assist in Thursday's 3-2 overtime loss to the Jets.
Benson has picked up four helpers over his last four contests. He's looked good on the second line alongside Dylan Cozens, who had the goal Benson assisted on in this game. The 19-year-old Benson is up to eight points, 27 shots on net, 10 hits, 24 PIM and a plus-1 rating through 20 appearances. He's still finding his way at the NHL level, though he's been able to maintain a middle-six role when healthy.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Two apples in loss
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Benson posted two assists in Friday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Canucks.
Benson earned a helper on Bowen Byram's first-period marker before adding an assist on Alex Tuch's game-tying goal in the final frame. The 19-year-old Benson didn't have a point in five games, dating back to Nov. 14, before earning his second multi-point effort of 2024-25. The left-shot forward will need more time and experience before being counted on to produce consistent offense. Benson has logged three goals, three assists and a plus-1 rating through 17 contests.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Nets marker in win
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Benson scored his third goal of the season Thursday in a 4-3 overtime win over St. Louis.
Benson tied the game at 1-1 in the first period, and he added four shots, one hit and a plus-2 rating in 17:21 of ice time. After being held off the scoresheet in his first seven outings while contending with a lower-body injury earlier in the season, Benson has produced three goals and an assist across a four-game span. The 19-year-old is currently occupying a top-line role and spot on the No. 2 power-play unit.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Pots goal Saturday
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Benson scored a goal in Saturday's 3-2 shootout win over Calgary.
Benson opened the scoring at the 1:11 mark of the first period to earn his third point and second goal in the last two games. He didn't have a point in seven appearances to begin the 2024-25 season, but the 19-year-old forward is starting to heat up offensively.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Scores, assists Thursday
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Benson scored a power-play goal and added an even-strength assist in Thursday's 6-1 win over the Rangers.
Benson had gone scoreless in his first seven appearances this season, but he snapped that drought in style, being one of only two Buffalo players who recorded multi-point efforts as the Sabres thrashed the Rangers at Madison Square Garden. The 19-year-old notched 30 points across 71 games as a rookie in 2023-24, and this might be the performance that can get him going following a slow start to the campaign.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Good to play Tuesday
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Benson (lower body) is off injured reserve Tuesday, per the NHL media site.
Benson missed Buffalo's previous five games, but he's set to draw into the lineup for Tuesday's game against Ottawa. He'll likely serve on the second line alongside Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn. Benson has no points, a minus-4 rating and eight shots in six appearances in 2024-25.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Might play Tuesday
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Benson (lower body) is a "possibility" to suit up against the Senators on Tuesday according to head coach Lindy Ruff, Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News reports.
Benson should effectively be considered a game-time call to face Ottawa. In order to play, the 19-year-old will need to be activated off injured reserve, which will be the clear indicator for fantasy managers that Benson is playing. If he does remain on the shelf, look for Jiri Kulich to continue slotting into a second-line role.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Could return next week
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Per Heather Engel of NHL.com, Benson (lower body) is a possibility to return to action next week, according to coach Lindy Ruff on Friday.
Benson has missed the last three games and has been affected by the injury all season. He returned to the ice Friday and is feeling a lot better. Benson has yet to hit the scoresheet in six games this season, after he picked up 11 goals and 19 assists in 71 regular-season games as an 18-year-old rookie last season.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Shifts to IR
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Benson (lower body) was placed on injured reserve Monday, per the NHL media site.
Benson last played against Chicago on Oct. 19 and hasn't been skating. He can be activated when he's ready to return, but he will probably be out for a while longer. Benson has been held off the scoresheet in six games while contributing eight shots on goal and four blocked shots this season.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Not playing Saturday
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Benson (lower body) will not play versus Detroit on Saturday, according to Heather Engel of NHL.com.
Benson will sit out his second straight game as he has a lingering lower-body injury that has bothered him since the start of the season. The 19-year-old has been held without a point through six games this season. Consider Benson day-to-day at this time.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Still not practicing
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Benson (lower body) is not at practice Friday, Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News reports.
Benson missed Tuesday's tilt versus Dallas, as he has been dealing with the injury since the start of the season and the Sabres just want him to regain his health. The 13th overall pick in 2023, Benson has yet to hit the scoresheet in six games after picking up 11 goals and 30 points in 71 regular-season games as an 18-year-old rookie. Consider him questionable for Saturday's home game against Detroit.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Not playing Tuesday
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Benson will not play Tuesday against Dallas due to a lingering lower-body injury, Paul Hamilton of WGR Sports Radio 550 reports.
Benson has been dealing with his lower-body injury since the start of the campaign, and he'll miss his second game as a result. Jordan Greenway will draw into the lineup in a corresponding move. Benson has been held off the scoresheet through six appearances while averaging 14:10 of ice time per game.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Set to play Thursday
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Benson (lower body) is expected to be in the lineup versus the Kings on Thursday, Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News reports.
Benson was officially a game-time decision, but he took line rushes alongside Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch on the first line. The 19-year-old Benson will have a big opportunity in that spot Thursday, though it's likely a temporary gig while the Sabres await the return of John-Jason Peterka (concussion).
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Considered game-time decision
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Benson (lower body) is considered a game-time decision for Thursday's matchup against the Kings.
Head coach Lindy Ruff said after Thursday's morning skate that the Sabres will warm up an extra player ahead of the game against the Kings, but he expects Benson to be available for the home opener. Over 71 appearances with Buffalo last year, he recorded 11 goals and 30 points while averaging 14:31 of ice time.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Might play Thursday
Rotowire
Benson took part in Wednesday's practice and might be available for Thursday's game against LA, according to Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News.
The Sabres are going to wait to see how Benson responds to the skate before making a determination, so he might end up being a game-time decision. If the 19-year-old is in the lineup, it will likely be as a member of the second line alongside Dylan Cozens and Jack Quinn. Jiri Kulich, who logged 14:00 of ice time Saturday, might be a healthy scratch if Benson is available.
