Austin Russo showed great vision from the back and his distribution was a big asset for the team. He was accurate on his long breakout passes and was able to fire them through tight windows and catch defenses in between line changes to launch odd man rushes. He was able to do this because of his success in puck battles in his own zone, was very calm and he angled his body well to use leverage to win the puck from the forwards and easily come away with possession without having to get too involved in a physical battle. He limited access to the slot well and was strong while forcing players to the outside, standing them up and preventing them from forcing their way towards goal as they tried to gain a step on him. His stick work was effective and he disrupted plenty of offensive opportunities through his timely poke checks and stick placement. In the attacking zone he was very quick to react and step to loose pucks to keep the play alive, pinch along the boards to prevent clearance attempts, and funnel the puck back down low to keep the pressure on the defense. The defense-first approach from Russo was effective and it complemented the offensive approach very well.