Zach Benson's embellishment call has fans split

Gino Hard just flagged a Sabres-Blue Jackets call: Zach Benson was whistled for embellishment while Conor Garland got an interference penalty.

The Sabres beat Columbus 5-2 tonight in Buffalo, but the argument afterward isn't about the score. It's about one play that produced two whistles and plenty of confused reactions.

Hard noted that Benson was called for embellishment on the play, while Garland was handed an interference penalty.

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Beyond that, we don't know how the contact happened, and nobody should pretend to read it from a one-line post. Did Benson sell a real hit, or did the officials misjudge contact that was actually there?

Benson came into tonight with 14 points in 15 games and a +11 rating, according to the numbers before this game. Those are the numbers of a winger driving play for the Sabres, not one who needs help drawing calls.

Garland's season has been quieter. Before tonight he had no goals and one point in 14 games, with a -4 rating, and Columbus entered the night 27th in the NHL at 7-7-0.

Why this double call will keep getting replayed

An embellishment call and an interference call on the same play is a rare pairing, and it almost guarantees the replay gets picked apart. When officials put a player's honesty in question, they'd better be certain. That one deserves an explanation from the league.

For Benson, a 21-year-old who was the 13th pick in 2023, a diving label is a reputation problem on top of a penalty. Referees remember it, and so do opposing benches.

The Sabres can move on quickly with a win in hand. They host Vegas on Sunday, and Columbus returns Tuesday against Florida.

Quick hits

ANAHEIM DUCKS: Leo Carlsson reached 100 NHL assists tonight in Calgary, according to the Ducks' official account. That's a big round number for a young playmaker.

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MILESTONE WATCH: Matthew Schaefer is three games from 100 in the NHL, and three Islanders could reach career milestones as they host the Devils on Saturday.

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TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS: John Tavares faces the Canadiens on Saturday, and tonight he went out of his way to praise Carey Price. A rare compliment for a Habs legend.

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BOSTON BRUINS: Mikey Eyssimont scored a natural hat trick in 1:43 to lift Providence past Hamilton 5-4, according to Jack Studley. That's a serious burst.

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TRADE BUZZ: Elliotte Friedman said tonight he doesn't know if Nikita Kucherov has any chance of ending up with the Blackhawks, but he noted Connor Bedard needs that kind of player.

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Elliotte Friedman shuts down Kucherov negotiation theory