NHL conspiracy against arch-villain Sam Bennett? Florida Panthers commentators believe so
Article content
At the time of the penalty a few neutral observers questioned the call, such as Boston's Peter Blackburn of the What Chaos podcast. 'I know it's Sam Bennett and he doesn't deserve much benefit of the doubt but I really don't like that penalty call.'
And The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun: 'For sure Ekholm pushes Bennett, but Bennett's reputation around the crease is also something that refs around the league are aware of. Should that matter or not? Not sure it's called a penalty if it's not Bennett? Certainly a good debate to be had on it.'
But both when the call was made and afterwards, the consensus out of Florida was that Bennett got a raw and possibly shady deal on the call.
Said Jacob Langsam of the Panther Pourri podcast: 'We are seeing a whole lot of the 'that was a terrible call, but Bennett hurt my feelings earlier in the playoffs' barely dressed up and trotted out as legitimate analysis.'
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Winnipeg Free Press
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Edmonton Journal
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Global News
2 days ago
- Global News
Marchand, Bennett too hot for Oilers to handle in Game 5 of Stanley Cup final
Driving the Florida Panthers attack in the playoffs is a player in his NHL prime and another acting like he is. 28-year-old Sam Bennett and 37-year-old Brad Marchand continued to be too much for the Oilers to handle in the Stanley Cup final in Florida's 5-2 win over Edmonton on Saturday to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. Marchand scored twice Saturday — Florida's first and third goals — to reach half a dozen goals in the Cup final. Florida's second goal of the game was Bennett's fifth of the Cup final and his NHL-leading 15th of the post-season. The Panthers can close out the series at home Tuesday and become the first back-to-back Stanley Cup champions since the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2020 and 2021. A new ingredient for the Panthers this post-season, however, is the five-foot-nine, 180-pound Marchand, who Florida acquired at the trade deadline after his almost 16 years with the Boston Bruins. Story continues below advertisement Marchand's six goals was the most by any player in the championship series since Esa Tikkanen in 1988. 1:43 Edmonton Oilers fans embrace rituals, superstitions during playoffs Marchand, from Halifax, seeks the second Stanley Cup of his career after lifting the trophy with the Boston Bruins in 2011 at the age of 23. He reached another two Cup finals with Boston before he was dealt to Florida this winter. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy When asked what the 2011 edition of Brad Marchand would say to his 2025 version, he replied 'man, that guy's good looking.' 'Sometimes you get bounces, sometimes you don't but definitely you'd be grateful to be in this opportunity and have another opportunity to be in the finals and be part of a really good team for sure,' Marchand continued. Bennett, from Holland Landing, Ont., pushed his road goal streak to six straight games when he wired a rebound past Edmonton's Calvin Pickard to give the Oilers a 2-0 lead in the first period. Story continues below advertisement A front-runner for this year's Conn Smythe Trophy that goes to the NHL's playoff MVP, Bennett ranks second in post-season in hits (103) to Edmonton's Zach Hyman (111). 'We've talked about it so much,' said Bennett's teammate Sam Reinhart. 'It's just his game translates so well to this time of year. He creates so much room for himself.' Marchand and Bennett each with five, or more, goals apiece in the Cup final are the first teammates to do so since Montreal's Frank Mahovlich and Yvan Cournoyer in 1973. 'They're just certainly capable of processing the context of the game,' Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said. 'They don't get too high, they don't go too low. Their energy level is high, and they're very focused on the game. 'There's a mental toughness there, a mental capacity to stay within the game and not try to break it open. Just wait. Patience.' The ageless Marchand scored both his goals off draws that Edmonton won, but he got to the puck first and beat Oilers to the net to score twice. 'What he can do under duress in a small area is world class,' Maurice said.
