The Buffalo Sabres jumped out to an early 2-0 lead that helped them cruise to a 4-2 win in Game 1 against the Montreal Canadiens to begin the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. One of the big reasons for the early lead was Zach Benson, who had assists on each of the first two goals after not hiding what he planned to do in this game.
Prior to the game, Benson was interviewed by the NHL on TNT crew, and Paul Bissonnette asked the Sabres' forward if he had any tricks up his sleeve to get under the skin of the Canadiens' goalie Jakub Dobes. "Yeah, I will be around the blue paint, that will be no secret," Benson said.
He certainly did that as both of the goals he assisted on were right there around the crease. The first he brought the puck up the ice on a 2-on-1 and was able to make a perfect pass to Josh Doan, who was waiting far post.
The second goal was a little messier as the puck was bouncing around on the power play. Doan was right in front of Dobes and pushed the puck to Benson on one side, who once again was able to pass it across the crease to Ryan McLeod waiting far post.
Josh Doan and Zach Benson right in the middle of the madness on Ryan McLeod's goal 👊 pic.twitter.com/v6uuGmWlkN
— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) May 6, 2026
Zach Benson is breaking out for the Buffalo Sabres at the perfect time
Benson, in the series against the Boston Bruins, had three points, with two of those points coming in Game 6 in that series. This is now his second straight game with two points, and he is the first player who is 20 years old or younger to have a multi-point game in consecutive games since 2022, when Bowen Byram did it when he was a member of the Colorado Avalanche.
Benson has found his role on this team and does such a great job with it by playing right in front of the net. Something that is even more impressive when considering he is not a big forward and only 5'10" and 177 pounds.
There is no quit with Benson, and that type of attitude has helped him excel this season, and it has been infectious throughout his line and the Sabres as a whole. In the regular season, he set career highs in goals, assists, and points while finishing second on the team in +/- at +27.
That performance has carried over into the playoffs and is making a huge impact when the Buffalo Sabres need it most.
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