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Hamilton Spectator
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Sam Bennett raising his game and wreaking havoc for Florida Panthers
SUNRISE - Connor McDavid goes way back with Sam Bennett. The youngsters played together on the same team in the Greater Toronto Area as kids, faced off in the Ontario Hockey League, and have been on opposite sides in the Battle of Alberta. They also went toe-to-toe in last year's Stanley Cup final, which Bennett's Florida Panthers took in seven hard-fought games over McDavid's Edmonton Oilers. The clubs are going back at it again in June 2025. McDavid is still topping the stats sheet. Bennett, meanwhile, has raised his game — and continues to wreak havoc around the opposition crease. The 28-year-old Panthers centre had 13 goals in these playoffs as the Panthers headed into Monday's Game 3 of the NHL's title series, which sat tied 1-1. But it's not just the offence. It's how Bennett is influencing the action. A gritty, physical player known for his on-the-line approach, he took Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz out with an elbow to the head that resulted in a concussion in the second round of the playoffs before making life miserable in the blue paint for the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final. The six-foot-one, 193-pound Bennett, who had three goals in this year's final entering Monday, has kept it going in a matchup with Edmonton that has seen him contact Oilers netminder Stuart Skinner a couple of times. Once it led to a goal, while the other sequence resulted in a goaltender interference penalty. 'It certainly can be difficult at times,' Bennett, who played 5 1/2 seasons with the Calgary Flames before getting traded to Florida, said of figuring out where the line is with referees. 'I've definitely been in situations where I've crossed that line. I never try to, but I try to play as close to that line as I can. It takes time and experience to figure out how to be as close to that line as possible without crossing it. 'It's not going to be perfect. Sometimes you're going to go over, but sometimes it's necessary to play as close to that line to help your team win.' Panthers defenceman Aaron Ekblad said there are certain players in the league that simply find ways to get in the way at the net. 'Just like (Oilers winger) Corey Perry, he's extremely good at getting there and being between the defenceman and a goalie,' said the blueliner. 'Those guys have a knack for it.' Bennett, who has already set a playoff record this spring with 12 road goals and is poised to become an unrestricted free agent July 1, might be the best of the bunch. Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said it's 'almost impossible' to keep opponents away from the crease. 'You just hopefully trust the referees, that they can uphold the standard on what's goaltender interference,' he said. 'What should be allowed and what shouldn't.' And when it comes to Bennett, McDavid has seen it before — from youth hockey to the NHL. 'He's always played with an edge, ever since he was a little guy,' said the Oilers superstar captain. 'He's playing well, scoring goals. Nothing we haven't seen before, so we've got to figure him out. 'He's not going anywhere. We're not going anywhere.' HELPING HAND McDavid wasn't quite sure how to answer the question. Asked to explain the work and process to be able to produce his highlight-reel assist in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final — an otherworldly toe-drag sequence that ended with a feed to Leon Draisaitl — the humble, soft-spoken centre struggled to find the right words for a difficult query. 'A lot goes into that,' McDavid said. 'I don't know how to answer that.' Draisaitl, usually on the receiving end of No. 97's setups, finished off his teammate's reply. 'You can't learn that,' the big German interjected, receiving laughter from reporters. 'I'll answer it for him.' RAT PACK The Panthers' rally towels for Game 3 have a cheeky twist. The red-and-white laundry features a hockey-stick-carrying rat sporting a hockey helmet in honour of the plastic versions of the rodent thrown on the ice by fans after victories. There's are also subtle nods to Florida's three playoff conquests this spring — the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes — blended into the design. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
21 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sam Bennett raising his game and wreaking havoc for Florida Panthers
SUNRISE – Connor McDavid goes way back with Sam Bennett. The youngsters played together on the same team in the Greater Toronto Area as kids, faced off in the Ontario Hockey League, and have been on opposite sides in the Battle of Alberta. They also went toe-to-toe in last year's Stanley Cup final, which Bennett's Florida Panthers took in seven hard-fought games over McDavid's Edmonton Oilers. The clubs are going back at it again in June 2025. McDavid is still topping the stats sheet. Bennett, meanwhile, has raised his game — and continues to wreak havoc around the opposition crease. The 28-year-old Panthers centre had 13 goals in these playoffs as the Panthers headed into Monday's Game 3 of the NHL's title series, which sat tied 1-1. But it's not just the offence. It's how Bennett is influencing the action. A gritty, physical player known for his on-the-line approach, he took Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz out with an elbow to the head that resulted in a concussion in the second round of the playoffs before making life miserable in the blue paint for the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final. The six-foot-one, 193-pound Bennett, who had three goals in this year's final entering Monday, has kept it going in a matchup with Edmonton that has seen him contact Oilers netminder Stuart Skinner a couple of times. Once it led to a goal, while the other sequence resulted in a goaltender interference penalty. 'It certainly can be difficult at times,' Bennett, who played 5 1/2 seasons with the Calgary Flames before getting traded to Florida, said of figuring out where the line is with referees. 'I've definitely been in situations where I've crossed that line. I never try to, but I try to play as close to that line as I can. It takes time and experience to figure out how to be as close to that line as possible without crossing it. 'It's not going to be perfect. Sometimes you're going to go over, but sometimes it's necessary to play as close to that line to help your team win.' Panthers defenceman Aaron Ekblad said there are certain players in the league that simply find ways to get in the way at the net. 'Just like (Oilers winger) Corey Perry, he's extremely good at getting there and being between the defenceman and a goalie,' said the blueliner. 'Those guys have a knack for it.' Bennett, who has already set a playoff record this spring with 12 road goals and is poised to become an unrestricted free agent July 1, might be the best of the bunch. Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said it's 'almost impossible' to keep opponents away from the crease. 'You just hopefully trust the referees, that they can uphold the standard on what's goaltender interference,' he said. 'What should be allowed and what shouldn't.' And when it comes to Bennett, McDavid has seen it before — from youth hockey to the NHL. 'He's always played with an edge, ever since he was a little guy,' said the Oilers superstar captain. 'He's playing well, scoring goals. Nothing we haven't seen before, so we've got to figure him out. 'He's not going anywhere. We're not going anywhere.' HELPING HAND McDavid wasn't quite sure how to answer the question. Asked to explain the work and process to be able to produce his highlight-reel assist in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final — an otherworldly toe-drag sequence that ended with a feed to Leon Draisaitl — the humble, soft-spoken centre struggled to find the right words for a difficult query. 'A lot goes into that,' McDavid said. 'I don't know how to answer that.' Draisaitl, usually on the receiving end of No. 97's setups, finished off his teammate's reply. 'You can't learn that,' the big German interjected, receiving laughter from reporters. 'I'll answer it for him.' Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. RAT PACK The Panthers' rally towels for Game 3 have a cheeky twist. The red-and-white laundry features a hockey-stick-carrying rat sporting a hockey helmet in honour of the plastic versions of the rodent thrown on the ice by fans after victories. There's are also subtle nods to Florida's three playoff conquests this spring — the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes — blended into the design. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2025.
Global News
a day ago
- Sport
- Global News
Bennett raising game, wreaking havoc for Panthers
SUNRISE – Connor McDavid goes way back with Sam Bennett. The youngsters played together on the same team in the Greater Toronto Area as kids, faced off in the Ontario Hockey League, and have been on opposite sides in the Battle of Alberta. They also went toe-to-toe in last year's Stanley Cup final, which Bennett's Florida Panthers took in seven hard-fought games over McDavid's Edmonton Oilers. The clubs are going back at it again in June 2025. McDavid is still topping the stats sheet. Bennett, meanwhile, has raised his game — and continues to wreak havoc around the opposition crease. The 28-year-old Panthers centre had 13 goals in these playoffs as the Panthers headed into Monday's Game 3 of the NHL's title series, which sat tied 1-1. Story continues below advertisement But it's not just the offence. It's how Bennett is influencing the action. A gritty, physical player known for his on-the-line approach, he took Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz out with an elbow to the head that resulted in a concussion in the second round of the playoffs before making life miserable in the blue paint for the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final. The six-foot-one, 193-pound Bennett, who had three goals in this year's final entering Monday, has kept it going in a matchup with Edmonton that has seen him contact Oilers netminder Stuart Skinner a couple of times. Once it led to a goal, while the other sequence resulted in a goaltender interference penalty. 'It certainly can be difficult at times,' Bennett, who played 5 1/2 seasons with the Calgary Flames before getting traded to Florida, said of figuring out where the line is with referees. 'I've definitely been in situations where I've crossed that line. I never try to, but I try to play as close to that line as I can. It takes time and experience to figure out how to be as close to that line as possible without crossing it. Story continues below advertisement 'It's not going to be perfect. Sometimes you're going to go over, but sometimes it's necessary to play as close to that line to help your team win.' 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 Panthers defenceman Aaron Ekblad said there are certain players in the league that simply find ways to get in the way at the net. 'Just like (Oilers winger) Corey Perry, he's extremely good at getting there and being between the defenceman and a goalie,' said the blueliner. 'Those guys have a knack for it.' Bennett, who has already set a playoff record this spring with 12 road goals and is poised to become an unrestricted free agent July 1, might be the best of the bunch. Oilers head coach Kris Knoblauch said it's 'almost impossible' to keep opponents away from the crease. 'You just hopefully trust the referees, that they can uphold the standard on what's goaltender interference,' he said. 'What should be allowed and what shouldn't.' And when it comes to Bennett, McDavid has seen it before — from youth hockey to the NHL. 'He's always played with an edge, ever since he was a little guy,' said the Oilers superstar captain. 'He's playing well, scoring goals. Nothing we haven't seen before, so we've got to figure him out. Story continues below advertisement 'He's not going anywhere. We're not going anywhere.' HELPING HAND McDavid wasn't quite sure how to answer the question. Asked to explain the work and process to be able to produce his highlight-reel assist in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup final — an otherworldly toe-drag sequence that ended with a feed to Leon Draisaitl — the humble, soft-spoken centre struggled to find the right words for a difficult query. 'A lot goes into that,' McDavid said. 'I don't know how to answer that.' Draisaitl, usually on the receiving end of No. 97's setups, finished off his teammate's reply. 'You can't learn that,' the big German interjected, receiving laughter from reporters. 'I'll answer it for him.' RAT PACK The Panthers' rally towels for Game 3 have a cheeky twist. The red-and-white laundry features a hockey-stick-carrying rat sporting a hockey helmet in honour of the plastic versions of the rodent thrown on the ice by fans after victories. There's are also subtle nods to Florida's three playoff conquests this spring — the Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes — blended into the design. Story continues below advertisement This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2025.
Calgary Herald
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Calgary Herald
Calgary Surge stage late rallies, stun Edmonton Stingers in CEBL opener
The Calgary Surge opened up the 2025 Canadian Elite Basketball League campaign with excitement. Article content And a dramatic victory. Article content Tied heading into the Elam Ending and then by five late in the end-game scenario, the Surgemade up the stagger and soared past the host and rival Edmonton Stingers in an 86-84 triumph Sunday. Article content It was Jameer Nelson Jr.'s layup that was the difference in the CEBL's season-opener for the visiting Surge at Edmonton EXPO Centre. Article content Article content One of the team's new members in a lineup full of them raced coast-to-coast for to seal the win in his first-ever CEBL game. Article content Article content 'I didn't know I was gonna get that open,' Nelson Jr., who was named game MVP, told sideline reporter Sarah Ryan. Article content 'I got full speed, so there was no reason to stop.' Article content Nobody could stop Nelson late, as he finished with a game-high 22 points, highlighted by the final three buckets for the victors, including a three-point make to push them one field goal shy of next-one-wins territory. Article content His points came on 7-for-12 shooting, adding five rebounds and four assists. Article content Nelson was part of a starting five that proved productive for the visiting side, with veteran Sean-Miller Moore, Greg Brown III — including seven rebounds and four blocks — and Gabe Osabuohien each scoring 14 points in the victory. Article content It didn't matter that they were in enemy territory. Article content 'I thought the crowd was great,' Nelson said. 'I thought that was a lot of adversity for us. And it's a rivalry, so I feel like we're gonna be tested, but that was definitely a tough test to start the season.' Article content Article content Indeed, the Battle of Alberta picked up right where it left off last year. Article content For the Stingers, their season starts in the same bitter way that the last two campaigns ended after they fell to the Surge in the Western Conference semifinals each time. Article content Meanwhile, the retooled Surge still seem to have the upper hand on their provincial rival. Article content The Stingers took a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter, but the Surge responded with an 11-1 run to tie things up. Article content The rivals remained knotted at 77 apiece when the clock was stopped for target-score time. Article content The Stingers again raced to an advantage, scoring the next five points. But the Surge battled back once more with a 7-0 run before the Stingers tied the game at 84, setting the stage for Nelson's heroics.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Now The Real Fun Starts': Maple Leafs Taking Inward Approach To Preparation Against Senators In Playoffs
Toronto will have two days of preparation before the Battle of Ontario begins on Sunday. The Toronto Maple Leafs got out of game 82 against the Detroit Red Wings unscathed. After a late goal by Chris Tanev to tie the game and send it to overtime, Scott Laughton found the back of the net for his second goal as a Maple Leaf. "Now the real fun starts," he said after the game. SCOTT LAUGHTON ENDS THE REGULAR SEASON 🚨 — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 18, 2025 It's time to flip the page, from the Atlantic Division-winning regular season to the eagerly awaited Battle of Ontario, which begins on Sunday. It's the first time Toronto and the Ottawa Senators have gone head-to-head in the playoffs since 2004. Laughton, who hails from Oakville, Ontario, rewatched the last battle between both clubs in the postseason. He'll make his Maple Leafs debut on Sunday, with fans inside and outside Scotiabank Arena buzzing. "It was amazing," he said, looking back on the past Battle of Ontario playoff series, "so really excited to get going here and be a part of it." Born in Scarborough, Ontario, Tanev played in the Battle of Alberta with the Calgary Flames in 2022. Three seasons later and two provinces over, the veteran defenseman will relive and be able to eventually re-tell his version of the clash against Ottawa with the Maple Leafs. 'It's Going To Be A Blood Bath': Maple Leafs Are Ready For Senators In First Round Of Playoffs After Clinching Atlantic Division Toronto has clinched the division title for the first time since the 1999-00 season. "The province was loud and people were vocal, fans on both sides," he said on Thursday, looking back on the Battle of Alberta. "Those are the series that are fun, they're hard. Every little thing matters, and that's what's going to come up here for us." The Maple Leafs will review film and have an optional practice on Friday before shifting into full gear on Saturday. Toronto lost all three games to Ottawa in the regular season and were outscored 9-3. The playoffs, though, are a different game. It's something many Senators players haven't been through in their careers. It's the survival of the fittest. Toronto will want to capitalize on an inexperienced Ottawa team, but they'll make it difficult. CHRIS TANEV 🚨Ties the game with 1.8 seconds left in regulation — Omar (@TicTacTOmar) April 18, 2025 But when it comes to preparation for Game 1, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube isn't approaching it any differently than how he's gotten ready for games this season. "It's about us," he said. "I get Ottawa's a real good team, and it's going to be a battle, and they do what they do, and we'll look at that stuff, but it really boils down to our team and the commitment and the battle we'll need." Stay updated with the most interesting Maple Leafs stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.
