Buffalo Sabres experiment with lesser-known talent in loss to Pens

The Buffalo Sabres entered their 2023 Prospects Challenge finale looking to see if they had any diamonds in the rough vs. the Penguins.

Trap game – That was the phrase I used earlier when I pondered whether the Buffalo Sabres would sweep their tripleheader vs. the Penguins. Of course, this was more than a few hours before we learned Isak Rosen and Jiri Kulich were getting well-earned healthy scratches while Aleksandr Kisakov and Viktor Neuchev were dealing with minor ailments.

It also told me the strategy in today’s game was simple: To find a few diamonds in the rough, and go from there. Matt Savoie and Zach Benson got the nod to start the contest on the first line, so it’s not like the cupboard was bare. Unfortunately, just a mere 30 seconds into the game, Savoie rammed into the boards and was seen grasping his shoulder before he headed to the locker room.

Now down to 10 forwards, most of whom being either a long way from or with little to no chance of ever playing in the NHL, the Sabres struggled as a unit. But, despite the final score, we saw a few good things.

Buffalo Sabres have unearthed a few diamonds in the rough

Scott Ratzlaff had an outstanding game, as two of the three goals Buffalo allowed were not on him. The first occurred when everyone wearing a blue jersey realized Savoie was injured, leaving the 18-year-old with no chance to make a spectacular save.

The second one was the result of a remarkable move from Brayden Yager when the 14th overall pick from 2023 outclassed the Sabres seventh round pick Norwin Panocha and drove the puck home. And of course, the Penguins third goal came via an empty-netter.

Zach Metsa created more than a few opportunities in the offensive zone and did a fantastic job finding open teammates. Zach Benson, meanwhile, pitched in just about everywhere, and he constantly found himself in good position offensively.

Benson’s performance, despite the shutout loss, was fun to watch, as he seemed to know where the puck was going before it even left an opponent’s stick. Once again, his puck control was on display, along with his ability to turn nothing into something by finding teammates down the ice. He had one big giveaway early, but it wasn’t long before he atoned for the mistake.

At the end of the day, you couldn’t necessarily call this one a “trap game” given the number of high-end prospects the Buffalo Sabres held out. But you also can’t call the contest a waste, thanks to the number of players who stood out in a good way.