In the wake of injuries to Mattias Samuelsson, who will require season-ending surgery to repair an upper-body injury, and Jack Quinn, who is anticipated to miss six to eight weeks following successful lower-body surgery during the All-Star break, Don Granato expressed confidence in his players.
The coach of the Buffalo Sabres stated that the team will work together to take advantage of the opportunity while they are away. He also mentioned that this comes at a time when the group is psychologically ready to concentrate on covering the gap.
Granato stated, “As I mentioned yesterday, we lost a couple of key players in Quinn and Samuelsson.” “I believe that at this point in time, we’re in a better psychological position than we were at the beginning of the season to make up for those two players’ losses.”
After stepping in on a line with Peterka and Cozens during practice on Sunday and rejoining the line again for Monday’s practice at KeyBank Centre, rookie forward Zach Benson has earned the opportunity to replace Quinn in the starting lineup.
The 18-year-old has received praise for his reliable, two-way play and his keen hockey sense, which allows him to stabilise multiple lines. Benson is prepared to take advantage of his opportunities after getting a break during the bye week and playing as a healthy scratch in Buffalo’s game against Los Angeles on January 24.
He declared, “If there is pressure, it’s good pressure to have.” It’s clear that Quinner is a difficult man to replace. There can’t be a single guy. There must be more than one guy in our group. I hope our queue clicks nicely.
Previous to Quinn’s injury, which he suffered last Saturday in the third period against San Jose after he collided with the boards, the Sabres’ line of Quinn, Cozens, and Peterka had combined for 14 points in their previous two games.
Granato believed that Benson’s skill and positional awareness made him the ideal addition to Cozens and Peterka.
Granato described him as having “grit, hockey sense, and he goes in front of the net.” He invents and coerces plays that those two can profit from. .. He is constantly positioned around the puck in relation to the ice. Usually, the opposing team has to pass through him. He therefore plays exceptionally well without the puck, and we recover it more quickly.
In 38 games during his rookie season in the league, Benson has 14 points (4+10). Benson stated he wants to keep concentrating on playing a full game and not cheating, despite the fact that he hasn’t scored in his last 11 games. Granato thinks that will lead to the scoring.
Granato stated, “His exceptional ability is to buy himself those extra one or two seconds that you don’t get in the NHL.” “Benny possesses that kind of discernment. He has a highly perceptive ability to manipulate circumstances. There is no doubt that the scores will be announced. His actions are increasing your chances of scoring, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he scored and ended up with points tomorrow.
The Sabres host the Dallas Stars at KeyBank Centre on Tuesday to begin a four-game homestand. With victories in their final two games before the break, the team finished 7-4-0 in January, and they will aim to build on that performance.
