Mittelstadt tallies 3 points in preseason loss to Penguins

Throughout training camp, Buffalo Sabres coach Don Granato has recognized forward Casey Mittelstadt as a player who works hard every day and makes the most of his opportunities.

Playing alongside Jordan Greenway and Zach Benson, Mittelstadt’s work ethic was on full display Friday as he tallied a goal and two assists in the Sabres’ 7-4 preseason loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins at KeyBank Center.

Benson, JJ Peterka, and Victor Olofsson each had a goal and an assist for Buffalo while Devon Levi made 30 saves.

After the game, Mittelstadt stressed the importance of having a good balance during preseason games and expressed his excitement as the team looks forward to its first game of the regular season next week.

“You obviously want to work a lot of the kinks out and at the same time, stay healthy and get yourself ready to go,” Mittelstadt said. “Overall, I think there’s things we can clean up, but I like the vibe we have going around and just the feeling in the room with the guys. I thought we’ve had some really good practices as well as games. So, I think everyone’s excited and ready to get going here.”

Mittelstadt’s line looked ready to go early as the trio connected 2:06 into the second period to give the Sabres a 2-1 lead. Late in the third, Benson and Mittelstadt connected once again as Mittelstadt capped off his three-point night with a goal.

Although they hadn’t played together before, Mittelstadt, Greenway, and Benson looked very familiar with one another and held a 12-5 edge in shot attempts when the trio was on the ice together at 5-on-5, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Benson seemed to fit right in with the pair, just as he has with several other players throughout his first NHL training camp. Mittelstadt enjoyed playing with the 18-year-old, who finished the preseason with four goals and seven points in six exhibition contests.

“It was awesome. I thought he played great. And you know, he’s a hound,” Mittelstadt said. “He’s hounding the puck and he’s so good at getting it back. And for a little guy, he can protect the thing pretty well. So, extremely impressive. I loved playing with him tonight.”

Benson’s ability to make an impact across the lineup also impressed Granato, giving the coaching staff something to think about when solidifying the team’s 23-man roster on Monday.

“He’s done it with different personnel in different situations in game after game. So, he’s done very well for himself through camp,” Granato said. “Not many things you could nitpick with. He’s done a lot of detail to his game, and he’s been ready to play each and every shift, any situation, read situations well, has helped guys around him on whatever line play better.”

How it happened

PERIOD 1

Drew O’Connor scored on a breakaway to put the Penguins on the board just 20 seconds into the game, but the Sabres erased the deficit thanks to a connection between Peterka and Olofsson.

Peterka intercepted a pass from goaltender Tristan Jarry beside the Pittsburgh net and quickly found Olofsson, who was unable to connect on his first attempt but buried a second try.

PERIOD 2

An eventful period featuring a combined six goals and a fight between Peyton Krebs and Sidney Crosby ended with the Penguins carrying a 5-3 lead into the intermission.

The Sabres jumped ahead 3-1 on goals from Benson and Peterka scored 3:02 apart. Benson finished off a series of passes from Mittelstadt and Jordan Greenway; Peterka buried a long rebound on the power play after Crosby was assessed an additional two minutes for roughing following his fight with Krebs.

The Penguins struck back with four goals in the period, three of which were scored by Marcus Pettersson, Lars Eller, and O’Connor in a span of 2:14. Evgeni Malkin tapped in a seeing-eyed pass from Erik Karlsson on the power play to end the run with 4:16 remaining.

PERIOD 3

Pittsburgh added to its lead 1:33 into the period with a goal from Jeff Carter, who emerged with the puck from the corner of the offensive zone and scored from in front.

Benson delivered a pass through two defenders to set up Mittelstadt’s goal, a high shot off his backhand 6:38 into the period. It was the closest the Sabres would come before the Penguins restored their lead on a power-play goal from Kris Letang with 4:47 remaining.

What we learned

1. Erik Johnson made his preseason debut and first appearance in a Sabres jersey, logging 16:29 of ice time and two blocked shots.

2. Following the game, Benson reflected on his first NHL camp and preseason.

"It's been awesome. Since day one, I felt welcome," Benson said. "It's been a blast, obviously, learning from so many talented players that have been in this league for a while now and obviously the coaching staff who has super knowledge of this game and kind of just soaking it all up."

While the decision isn't up to him on if he'll get to stay in Buffalo a little longer, Benson feels he did everything he could do to make the final roster by just playing his game.

"Yeah, I mean, I compete every game. That's kind of my game, is consistency and I take a lot of pride in it," he said. "But yeah, I was definitely trying to give it my all every game."

3. Granato acknowleged Peyton Krebs, Dylan Cozens, and Peterka as players who have stood out to him throughout camp and lauded Peterka's effort against the Penguins.

"JJ Peterka, I thought, was real good tonight and showing progress - stronger on pucks, broke up some plays defensively, just some details in his game that he's added through maturity and through hindsight," Granato said. "And Cozens and Krebs, similar. So, the young guys have definitely shown progress and that's what we want to see."

4. As Buffalo looks ahead to its home opener, the group will focus on cleaning up the details and using a high-scoring game like Friday's to get themselves ready for the regular season.

"You go into preseason games to get ready for the regular season, and I thought tonight there was plenty there that is going to help us get ready and better prepared for the regular season," Granato said. "It was a wild game. It was a game that could’ve been 7-7 as well, the way it was. I thought they played it a little more like a regular-season mentality. We lacked a little in that. If that helps us get ready for Thursday, it’s a good thing, too."

Up next

The Sabres open the regular season at home against the New York Rangers next Thursday, Oct. 12.

Details for the night – including a Party in the Plaza beginning at 4 p.m. and plans to honor Rick Jeanneret – can be found here.

Coverage on MSG begins at 6:30 p.m. with puck drop scheduled for 7.