The NHL’s Department of Player Safety announced Friday morning that Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for a cross-checking incident involving Toronto Maple Leafs winger Michael Bunting in last night’s 3-2 win for Florida in Game 2 of their Second Round series.
DoPS has not made an announcement regarding any discipline for Bennett on a first-period collision that resulted in an injury to Toronto winger Matthew Knies. Knies skated one shift after the play before leaving the game with an injury.
Bennett was assessed a minor penalty on the cross-checking play involving Bunting and no penalty on the play involving Knies. The Panthers center cross-checked Bunting in the side of the head during a net-front battle, causing Bunting to fall to the ice. While on the ice, Bennett again cross-checked Bunting in the lower back.
Among the Toronto fanbase, the play drew comparisons to Auston Matthews’ cross-check to the face of Buffalo Sabres defender Rasmus Dahlin during last year’s Heritage Classic. Matthews received a two-game suspension as a result of the play.
Well, he got away with the Knies take-out. Karma for what the Leafs got away with in their first game against the Bolts! taking out Cernak, injuring Point and Hedman.
I dont really see anything wrong with the Knies play, it just looks like an unfortunate outcome to two guys getting tangled up. The Bunting play if complete garbage though. They need to start getting that out of hockey. Im pretty sure Bortuzzo got suspended for that same play a few years ago, however the player receiving the cross check suffered a worse injury than bunting
The Knies play is bad because he was in a headlock and wasn’t able to protect himself as he was taken down to the ice. Sneaky dirty is what I’d call it. Not sure it’s worthy of a suspension but if I’m a Toronto fan I don’t like it. It’s par for the course from Bennett too.
So much for Walt Jr. #1’s prediction that Bennett wouldn’t be disciplined for the hit on Knies…
The NHL discipline continues to be so unpredictable – fine when a suspension is needed – suspend when a fine is needed – it seems like Parros flips a coin when it comes to suspend or fine? The NHL definitely needs to address this on-going issue and concern for the betterment of the player’s and team’s.
leaf fans don’t seem to care when this kind of stuff happens to other team’s players, so quit your whining softies
Leafs fans don’t suspend players. department of player safety does. they suspended bunting (deservedly so) for the Cernak situation but driving a player’s head into the ice is not worthy of ANY supplementary discipline?