Mustache of God

I hope Girgensons scores 80 this year.

OP a little too on the nose. Like Dahlin's pick.

G A M E D A Y !

This all but guarantees a Stanley Cup, yes?

Anyone else here think it's total BS that the season starts today but we still have to suffer through 2 more days with no Sabres hockey? I, for one, am outraged.

I don't recall his defensive play ever being very good, it seems the book on him has always been that he's a one dimensional player (PP specialist) and you always heard about him needing to improve his game away from the puck. Once Tage developed into the PP one-timer threat, Oloffson's primary contribution was put to the wayside. I've always wanted to see an extended look with him and Tage on the boards in the PP - if the PK wants to take away Tage then VO should be open for business but the few times I remember seeing them out there together it never seemed to work.

That was my first thought but then I don't want to see Mittlestad saddled with VO again. Quinn can't get back soon enough.

I really hope Olofsson doesn't make that 2nd line a liability. Liking Benson on the 3rd line, that should be fun to watch. Is it Thursday yet?

He'd fit right in here then!

Yikes.

Now that's how you pass the puck!

Tage should just rip slappers regardless of if a defender is in the way. After you take a few 100mph pucks you won't be stepping in his way much longer.

Does the inclusion of Benson all but confirm he's a lock to make the team?

Benson has at least earned a shot to experience real NHL action (not preseason hockey). I'd say let him get a taste of the pro life, have him travel with the team for the first away game and access his play after the first few games. I've got to imagine he's been putting in 100% effort so far and that is not sustainable over the course of the season, against full NHL squads. Let him figure out what he needs to work on, and get more reps in practicing with the team before sending him back to WHL. Considering the head coach situation there I'd lean keeping both Savoie and Benson around this team as long as they can without burning a year off their ELC.

Was Clifton told not to hit anybody tonight? I only half watched , didn't seem like there was a lot to like outside of Benson. VO hit a post on the pp but was otherwise useless. I don't understand where Rousek fits on this team. UPL didn't have much help on some of those goals but he should have gotten the 4th. BIro had a mini breakaway but other than that I didn't notice him at all. The power play was God awful but that's not what any of our units will look like in the regular season so I'm not concerned there. Its also the preseason and it's best not to read into it too much. Can't wait for the actual season to start.

Evander Kane wants a word.

I think I'm sold on Benson making the team.

That was a rough first 15 minutes of that period. Let's bring that final five energy into the third and win this 5-3

BENSON WITH THE REDEMPTION!

Bad penalty to take by Benson on the power play.

Click the "live" button to catch up.

That's why you go out and get yourself a second, back-up Johnson. I imagine EJ is filling the veteran gap left by Anderson and, while I expect him to play far more often than Anderson, I don't think expecting him to play a full season is a given.

He's 35 and is starting his 16th season in the NHL, he doesn't need to be playing any preseason games.

Rouske-Krebs-Benson should be a pesky line to play against. That also gives us a preview of lines 2 & 3 and most importantly, a good idea of what our starting defense will look like. I'd much rather see Rosen or Kulich in there for VO, oh well.

This will be a big night for Benson to prove that he can play without the teams two highest scorers.