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This season, he had just eight points in 20 games before being benched at Florida. Foligno said, “I was pretty surprised, you don’t really want to hear that, it was tough. The biggest thing for me was Ron didn’t just say you’re not playing, he showed me a lot of what I can bring, the good things on the ice and things I’ve got to start doing so it was a big learning tool and I’m looking forward to getting back into the lineup.” The winger went on to say that maybe he was confused on what kind of player he is, “I’m learning, being scratched has taught me a lot. I think in the beginning of the year I might have been getting caught in the middle, trying to be physical, trying to be offensive so I just gotta play my game and start winning one on one battles. I know what I can bring and my team knows what I can bring.”
As far as what went wrong Foligno said, “I think I was trying to do too much, just simplifying my game I think is the biggest thing. I’ve got to be a simple player and when I’m a simple player, I’m most effective. I think that’s using my speed on the walls and battling pucks. For myself I was losing a lot of battles and that’s not how I play so I was disappointed with my effort and I have to be ready to go come Saturday.”
As far as what Ron Rolston is thinking he said, “Marcus is a player that can be a dominant hockey player in this league and he was when he came to Buffalo last year, but in order to do that he has to play a certain way and he hasn’t been able to do that thus far, but we have full confidence that he’ll be able to get that game back.” Rolston added, “He’s got to work consistently in doing the things that makes him a good hockey player and that’s being a player that can be north and south and get to the net and attack the net, be good on walls in our zone and just be a presence for us. If he’s playing with guys who are water bugs like Ennis or Gerbe, he’s got to be a guy that makes space and plays his game and not their game.”
Thomas Vanek was given the day off from practice. He should be ready for Saturday afternoon against New Jersey.