Benson posted an assist, three shots on goal and two blocked shots in Saturday's 3-2 shootout win over the Lightning.
Benson has earned only three helpers over his last 10 outings since a two-point effort in Detroit on March 12. The 19-year-old is still seeing even-strength minutes on the top line, but he's losing out on power-play time more often late in the season. He's up to 26 points, 106 shots on net, 28 blocked shots, 26 hits, 58 PIM and an even plus-minus rating through 68 contests this season.
Benson logged an assist and three shots on goal in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the Senators.
Benson ended a four-game point drought, which included one missed game due to an illness. Since returning, the winger has filled a top-line role at even strength, which raises expectations for his offense. He's had a decent season with 10 goals, 14 helpers, 96 shots on net, 54 PIM and an even plus-minus rating over 63 outings, but he hasn't shown much growth from his 30-point rookie campaign a year ago. He's still just 19 years old and skipped the AHL, so there's plenty of learning for him to do on the job at the NHL level.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Good to go Saturday
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Benson (illness) will play Saturday against Minnesota, Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News reports.
Benson will be back in the lineup after he was sidelined in Buffalo's last game Thursday. The 19-year-old winger has 10 goals and 23 points in 60 games this season.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Not playing Thursday
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Benson (illness) won't play Thursday versus Utah, Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News reports.
Benson has earned four points over his last six games while filling a middle-six role. His absence will likely allow Sam Lafferty to get into the lineup, though Jack Quinn figures to get more ice time. Benson's next chance to play is Saturday at Minnesota.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Game-time call Thursday
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Benson is expected to be a game-time decision Thursday versus Utah because of an illness, per Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News.
Coach Lindy Ruff said Benson will probably miss the game, so don't be surprised if he's ultimately scratched. If Benson doesn't play, then Sam Lafferty will likely remain in the lineup. Lafferty is otherwise projected to be a healthy scratch to accommodate the return of JJ Peterka (lower body). The 19-year-old Benson has 10 goals, 23 points and 54 PIM in 60 appearances in 2024-25.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Two points in Detroit
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Benson produced a power-play goal and an even-strength assist in Wednesday's 7-3 loss to the Red Wings.
After helping to set up a Josh Norris tally in the final minute of the first period, Benson potted his own goal late in the second. The 19-year-old winger has two multi-point performances in the last four games, but those are his only points since Feb. 25. Benson is getting a look on the Sabres' top line with Norris and Tage Thompson while also seeing second-unit power-play time, but he remains a risky fantasy option despite his talent and upside.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: One step forward, one step back
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Benson put up two assists in a 6-5 loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday.
The slender winger hasn't take a step forward this season, but he hasn't exactly taken a step backward, either. Benson has 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) and 82 shots over 55 games after putting up 11 goals, 19 assists and 98 shots across 71 games in 2023-24. While he has 126 NHL games on his resume, he's still just 19 years of age, so some growing pains are natural. Benson will be fine, as long as the Sabres continue to allow his game to appropriately marinate.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Picks up helper in loss
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Benson notched an assist and two shots on goal in Saturday's 6-4 loss to the Predators.
Benson had been limited to one goal over his last eight games. He set up a Rasmus Dahlin tally late in the first period of Saturday's contest. Benson is up to 18 points, 71 shots on net, 21 hits, 34 PIM and a minus-2 rating through 48 appearances. It's a fairly similar pace to what he had in his rookie year -- 11 goals and 19 helpers over 71 contests, so it's unclear if Benson will take much of a step forward after the break for the 4 Nations Face-Off.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Adds late power-play goal
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Benson scored a power-play goal on two shots in Tuesday's 7-2 win over the Bruins.
Benson tallied after the Sabres' empty-netter, scoring with 13 seconds left in the blowout win. The 19-year-old slotted in on the fourth line and saw just 10:56 of ice time Tuesday, though 1:56 of it was on the power play. For the season, Benson has nine goals, eight helpers, three power-play points, 66 shots on net, 34 PIM and a minus-3 rating over 44 appearances. If he can't get back into a middle-six role, he'll have minimal fantasy value in redraft formats.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Collects pair of points
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Benson scored a goal on two shots and added a power-play assist in Friday's 5-2 loss to the Penguins.
Benson earned his first multi-point effort since Nov. 29 versus the Canucks. The 19-year-old set up Owen Power's goal in the first period before scoring one of his own in the third. Benson has four goals and an assist over his last 11 outings while seeing steady middle-six minutes. Overall, the winger has 16 points (two on the power play), 58 shots on net, 32 PIM and a minus-1 rating through 39 appearances.
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Sabres' Zach Benson: Nets goal vs. Colorado
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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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