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Calgary Flames: Sam Bennett Is Playing Better Than You Think |
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Follow me on Twitter @ToddCordell
Entering the 2015-16 season expectations surrounding Calgary Flames forward Sam Bennett were pretty high; largely because of what he accomplished in limited NHL action last season.
Bennett, of course, missed most of the year due to injury but recorded an assist in his first and only regular season game with the Flames. He followed that up by scoring three goals, adding an assist and tallying 20 shots in 11 playoff games.
This put a good taste in the mouth of the Flames, and their fans, and naturally left both parties expecting a lot more this season.
To this point, though, he has failed to deliver in terms of counting numbers. Bennett has just five goals and 14 points in 38 games and has recorded just one point in his last 17 outings.
While it'd be nice to see more production from Bennett I think he is playing much better than his recent point totals would suggest.
Throughout the duration of his offensive dry spell (17 games) Bennett has generated no shortage of scoring chances.
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Over the last 17 games Bennett has more 5 v 5 high danger scoring chances than every Flames player. That's pretty impressive when you factor in a) how good Sean Monahan and Johnny Gaudreau are at generating offense and; b) how those two in particular get at least a few extra shifts a night at full-strength.
Despite Bennett's impressive scoring chance numbers he has tallied just one 5 v 5 point in 17 games. With lesser numbers Monahan has managed four goals and four assists while Gaudreau has scored nine times and tallied 12 points.
So, in essence, Bennett is generating as much or more as the Flames' star offensive talents. He is just snake bitten and can't bury his chances right now while the latter two can.
If Bennett continues to generate chances like he has been it's only a matter of time before the points follow.
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