Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett didn't record a point in a Game 2 win Thursday over the Toronto Maple Leafs, but that didn't stop him from becoming a hot topic.
Bennett, known for his edgy play, had two incidents in the 3-2 win that put him in the crosshairs of Maple Leafs fans on social media.
The first play that had Maple Leafs fans fuming came midway through the first period when he roughed up Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies behind the net. Knies stayed in the game until the intermission but then did not return to the game.
There was no immediate word on potential injury details for Knies, although after the game Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said the news on his condition was "not positive."
Bennett claimed after the game that the takedown was incidental and that Knies just "got tied up in my arm."
How did Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk see the Knies play? Unsurprisingly, he doesn't see any further discipline coming Bennett's way.
“I do not think he will hear from player safety on that, no,” Tkachuk said when asked about Bennett’s takedown of Knies.
But Bennett was not done. In the second period, he was given a two-minute minor for a high cross-check on Maple Leafs forward Michael Bunting.
Bunting remained in the game but appeared to be favouring the back of his neck after the play.
After the game, Keefe took issue with Bennett's cross-check on Bunting. Keefe compared the play to Auston Matthews' cross-check on Buffalo Sabres defenceman Rasmus Dahlin in last year's outdoor game – which resulted in a two-game suspension – and went as far as to suggest that the punishment for Bennett should be similar to what Matthews received.
Bennett has been an important piece to the eighth-seeded Panthers' miraculous run to start this year's playoffs. He has four goals and three assists for Florida in seven post-season games.
The Panthers lead the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal, 2-0. Game 3 is Sunday and can be seen on Sportsnet and SN NOW.
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