One of the big moments from Friday’s third game of the Panthers-Bruins series was the hit from Sam Bennett on Brad Marchand that caused the latter to leave the game in the second period and not return. Marchand missed practice today with TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie noting (Twitter links) that the captain is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury and that winger Danton Heinen could take his place in the lineup as it appears he could be ready to return.
Heinen has missed the last four games with an undisclosed injury sustained during the first round against Toronto. He had 17 goals and 19 assists in 74 games during the regular season – great value for a league minimum contract – and provided the type of depth scoring that Boston has been lacking in recent games.
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski adds that Bennett will not face any supplementary discipline for the hit. Head coach Jim Montgomery told reporters that he didn’t see things the way the league did:
There’s a history there with Bennett. There’s clearly evidence of what went on. People can say it wasn’t intentional. We have our view of it.
Bennett had made his series debut after returning from an upper-body injury in the second game of their opening-round series against Tampa Bay and picked up an assist in a little under 13 minutes of action. Montgomery clarified that the history he referenced with Bennett in his comment wasn’t solely with Marchand but rather with those types of hits in general.
Meanwhile, Bennett’s return resulted in Nick Cousins being dropped from the lineup. Panthers head coach Paul Maurice told reporters including Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald that the decision to scratch Cousins wasn’t performance-related but rather wanting some extra coverage at center if Bennett wasn’t able to make it through the game which helped keep Steven Lorentz – who can play down the middle when called upon – in the lineup on the fourth line, a group that has had some success in the series so far.
That’s rich. The Bruins whining about cheap shots. Between Cheap Shot Charlie and Marchand they’ve got gall. They tried to intimidate the Panthers and the Panthers stuck it to them in their own building. What goes around comes around. Pastarnak should of been suspended for punching a linesman but I guess if you score enough goals that’s OK now. Looking for Florida to do it again and dominating the series. Chicago fan rooting for the Panthers.
When they won game 1, crickets. Lose game 2, “Tkachuk cheap hit on Pasta”, lose game 3, “Bennett sucker punched the rat”. When they lose, it’s everyone else’s fault Boston fans can’t lose without an excuse. Florida was rusty game 1 plus Maurice made some questionable lineup changes. They went back to what was working against Tampa and now they’re showing they’re clearly the better team. Hate the bruins and their fanbase.
I can hear your statement echoing through the trailer park you live in off of alligator ally!
It is as likely that it is echoing through his amazing, multi-million dollar beachfront condo on the beautiful Sunshine State riviera.
Come on ladies. Quit yelling at each other. It’s only hockey.
Just wondering what questionable lineup changes did Maurice make in game 1?
Maurice flipped Tkachuk and Reinhart and took Tarasenko off the 1st line
Game 1 had
Verhaeghe – Barkov – Tkachuk
Luostarinen – Lundell – Reinhart
Rodrigues – Stenlund – Tarasenko
Ever since the trade deadline, Reino, Barky, and Tarasenko led the first line with Swaggy and chucky together on the 2nd line
Montgomery always has a bit too much to say.
The Bruins complaining about a dirty hit is hypocrisy at its finest. That said…. Bennett’s right glove actually came around and punched Marchand directly in the head. Surprised there isn’t even talk about a fine. That was pretty dirty!