Sharks' Matt Benning: Nets lone goal in loss

Benning scored a goal, added three hits and blocked two shots in Tuesday's 3-1 preseason loss to Utah.

Benning opened the scoring at 12:33 of the second period, but the Sharks couldn't get that lead to the intermission. The 30-year-old defenseman is not guaranteed a spot on the Opening Night roster, but he could carve out a role as an extra blueliner. Benning's path to making the roster could be easier if Marc-Edouard Vlasic (upper body) and Shakir Mukhamadullin (lower body) require stints on injured reserve to begin the season.