Though Mac Bennett was among the Amerks best players on Wednesday, he did not receive a similar amount of ice time on Friday night. For that reason I am not going to assign a rating to his performance. I think he played well, but his identity as a forward still remains quite foggy.
Offensively, Bennett was not able to contribute. I thought he worked very hard, but chemistry on the breakout was a major issue. They had difficulty clearing the zone and as a result, spent very little time in the opponents half. The lack of chemistry was even more evident in neutral ice. Early on, Bennett tried cutting behind Cornel to set up a drop pass entering the zone. Unfortunately, Cornel did not expect it and the two collided resulting in a turnover. Though zone entry was a struggle, Bennett was able to get a few pucks deep. However, it was very rare that an Amerk was able to retrieve it.
Defensively, Bennett seemed much more comfortable. He pressured the puck well, and back-checked exceptionally. On one occasion he harassed his man from behind his net all the way into the offensive zone before basting him into the glass. Bennett continued to consistently finish his checks for the duration of the night. Mac also did a good job helping out on the boards in the defensive zone. He was quick to double, and in most cases was able to separate the puck.
On Wednesday, for the first time, I started to see Bennett as a forward. Even though he took a step back on Friday, I still think he has potential. Considering the influx of playmaking defenseman on the roster, he has little to no chance of getting any time on the point.
Lets Go Amerks contributor Dennis Allen Jr. will be posting a scouting report on a different player each home game. You can see other scouting reports at http://rocscouting.blogspot.com and additional Rochester Americans contributions on https://twointhebox.com …… and be sure to follow him @RocScout14