The Bruins-Panthers animosity reaches a new level after Bennett appeared on March and originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The animosity between the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers continues to grow as their second-round matchup in the Eastern Conference progresses.
Panthers center Sam Bennett reportedly will not be fined or suspended for a questionable hit on Bruins left wing Brad Marchand during the first period of Friday night’s Game 3 at TD Garden.
Steve Conroy of the Boston Herald reported Saturday that no NHL discipline is coming to Bennett.
No additional discipline for Bennett
— Steve Conroy (@conroyherald) May 11, 2024
Bennett hit Marchand pretty hard near the Bruins bench, knocking down the Boston captain. Marchand came on slowly and although he played until the end of the second period, he was ruled out for the remainder of the match at the start of the third period due to an upper body injury. No penalty was imposed during the game.
Early replays of the hit didn’t look too blatant, but other angles — including the one in the video below — make it fair to wonder if Bennett jabbed Marchand to the head.
Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery had some interesting comments about Bennett’s goal after Saturday’s practice.
“In real time, my eyes weren’t on that because the puck had left that area,” Montgomery told reporters. “But now that I’ve seen it, there’s a history with Bennett. Tough player, but there is clear evidence of what happened. People can say it wasn’t intentional, but we have our opinion about it.”
“People can say it wasn’t intentional, but we have our opinion about it.”
Jim Montgomery’s full commentary on the collision between Sam Bennett and Brad Marchand that injured the Bruins captain. pic.twitter.com/1sgAehh4QH
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 11, 2024
Marchand is considered “day to day,” according to Montgomery.
Unsurprisingly, Panthers head coach Paul Maurice had a different take on Bennett’s goal on Marchand.
Maurice when he sees a hit from Bennett at Marchand: ‘No, and I don’t think most of you would do that either. It was just a collision. In a perfect world, every team has everyone healthy. No one likes to see someone get hurt.” #flapanthers #browns
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) May 11, 2024
Bennett scored a similar goal against Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies during the second round of last season’s playoffs. He was not suspended, but Knies missed the final three games of the series with a concussion.
Bennett returned to the Panthers lineup in Game 3 on Friday after missing the previous five games due to injury.
The Panthers won 6-2 in Game 3 and have a 2-1 series lead entering Game 4 at TD Garden on Sunday night.
