The Department of Player Safety has made a decision and Sam Bennett won’t be in game two. The Florida Panthers forward has been suspended one game for his hit on Tampa Bay Lightning forward Blake Coleman in last night’s game. As the accompanying video explains:
It is important to note that while Coleman does turn toward the boards to play the puck, this is not a case of a player turning immediately prior to contact that turns a legal hit to an illegal one. From the moment Bennett hits the faceoff dot, he sees nothing but Coleman’s numbers. With ample time to make a better decision, the onus is on Bennett to deliver this hit in a legal fashion, avoid it entirely or at the very least minimize its force. Instead, he drives directly through Coleman’s back with speed, driving him forcefully into the boards.
Coleman did not suffer a serious injury on the play and Bennett has not been fined or suspended previously, which helped keep the punishment to just one game. Still, the Panthers will be without a player that is playing arguably the best hockey of his career right now. Bennett scored six goals and 15 points in ten regular season games after the trade to Florida at the deadline, and added two assists last night. Always known as a playoff performer, he will have to sit down and watch the team try to even the series tomorrow night.
This is b.s. , as there were several hits by Tampa , especially the one on Duclair that could warrant the same something stinks here !
Not really. DuClair was crosschecked into the boards while Coleman took a charge from the dot by Bennett into the boards. Only thing similar is they both hit the boards.
I had no idea Sam Bennett was doing so well in Florida. Bill Zito should buy himself a lottery ticket, because it seems like every move he has made in Florida is the right one and he just keeps hitting jackpots!
This doesn’t sound right , biased ? What about the hit on Duclair ?
Tom Wilson approves
Joke… Mcdonagh should be gone for at least 2… but nope tampa is the leagues baby obviously
Joke league. Anyone ever tried to find nhl scores or news on espn? It’s buried below cricket and even college football right now.
It was 4th on the ticker for me… Behind NFL, NBA, and MLB
Bettman and the owners never seem to learn from past mistakes. The NHL will be treated like a red headed step child by ESPN and TBS just like they’ve been in the past when they shared a network with other leagues. The NBA and MLB basically control when the NHL can be on TV after this season.
NHL should stay with NHL Network, NBCSP, and NBC , don’t know why all the changes , should leave well enough alone , all the great coverage and multiple games ,( butt ) you have to look who’s in charge , no names here from this bird, most everyone knows whom I speak of.