The Buffalo Sabres finished off their exhibition schedule against the Pittsburgh Penguins with what some might consider a good wake-up call going into a regular season with a great deal of expectations. The Sabres surrendered a 3-1 lead and allowed five straight Pittsburgh goals in the second and third period in a 7-4 loss at Key Bank Center on Friday.
“You go into preseason games to get ready for the regular season and I thought tonight there was plenty there that's going to help us get ready." Sabres head coach Don Granato said after the game. better prepared for the regular season. It was a wild game. It was a game that could have been 7-7. I thought (Pittsburgh) played it a little bit more with a regular season mentality, we lacked a little in that."
Here are five observations from the game:
1. Benson Stakes Claim To Spot - Sabres rookie Zach Benson had success throughout training camp, but in the last two preseason games head coach Don Granato chose to move him off the top line with Tage Thompson and Jeff Skinner and onto other forward units. On Friday, the 18-year-old was partnered with Casey Mittelstadt and Jordan Greenway and scored his fourth goal of the preseason and an assist, which would appear to have guaranteed the 2023 top pick a spot on the 23-man roster to start the season.
"He's done it with different personnel in different situations and game after game. (Zach has) done very well for himself through camp.” Granato said. “(There are) not many things you could nitpick. There is a lot of detail to his game and he's been ready to play each and every shift in any situation."
2. The Open-Door Policy - For the second straight home start, the Sabres surrendered a series of consecutive goals that saw them fall behind by a wide margin. In last Saturday’s 4-3 victory over Columbus, Buffalo trailed 3-0 early in the second period but rallied with three third-period goals for the victory. Against Pittsburgh, Drew O’Connor scored 20 seconds into the game before the Sabres rallied to take a two-goal lead in the middle frame, but then they gave it right back to the Pens, surrendering goals to Marcus Pettersson, Lars Eller, and O’Connor within a span of 2:14.
3. Devon Left Defenseless - Devon Levi has been excellent in two home victories over Boston and the Blue Jackets, but cannot be expected to be the Sabres savior on every night. The 21-year-old was victimized for seven goals on 35 shots against Pittsburgh, falling behind in the opening minute after a Sidney Crosby pass sent O’Connor in on a clear break, and after the Pens forward was allowed to undress him on a two-on-one break.
4. Rough Night For Dahlin And New D Partner - The Sabres record without blueliner Mattias Samuelsson partnered with Rasmus Dahlin was one of the chief causes of their missing the playoffs. Granato from the beginning of training camp has separated the two Swedes, partnering Samuelsson with veteran Erik Johnson and Dahlin with Connor Clifton. Both newcomers did not play in preseason games until this week, but the early results were not good, as Dahlin went -4 in 22:12. He and his new partner were on the ice for Pittsburgh’s first three even-strength goals before Dahlin was reunited with Samuelsson.
5. Olofsson Good At What He Does - Buffalo was expected to move out Victor Olofsson over the summer in spite of the veteran winger scoring 28 goals last season, but the injury to Jack Quinn created the vacancy that Olofsson is filling on the line with J-J Peterka and Dylan Cozens. Olofsson scored his first goal of the preseason on Friday and should more than adequately fill Quinn’s skates until he returns later this season.