Much of the attention surrounding Game 1 between the Florida Panthers and Toronto Maple Leafs has not been about the results.
Toronto won 5-4, in case you forgot.
No, the spotlight has been on Panthers center Sam Bennett and Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz.
During the second period of Monday’s game, Bennett skated into the crease with the puck and caught Stolarz in the head with his forearm.
Stolarz immediately went down and the officials blew the play dead. He remained on the ice for about two minutes of game time – around nine minutes in real time – before skating over to Toronto’s bench and throwing up.
He was immediately removed from the game and replaced by backup Joseph Woll.
Stolarz was then taken to a local area hospital for treatment and further evaluation, and he’s already reportedly been released.
Speaking on Tuesday, Leafs Head Coach Craig Berube did not rule out Stolarz for Game 2.
Craig Berube wouldn’t rule out Anthony Stolarz starting in Game 2: “Yeah I don’t know that yet … I’ll probably find out (later) today.”
— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) May 6, 2025
After the game, Berube was not shy about expressing his feelings on the play, saying that the “elbow to the head” was as “clear as day.”
Bennett was not penalized on the play and won’t be disciplined by the NHL Department of Player Safety.
He did not speak to the media after the game, but did on Tuesday morning.
Bennett said he considers Stolarz “a good friend of mine” – the two won the Stanley Cup with Florida last season – and said he reached out to him and that Stolarz responded.
As for the hit itself, Bennett said he had no intent to hurt Stolarz.
“You never want to see an injury like that,” said Bennett. “From my point of view, I’m just taking the puck to the net. I didn’t even know we made contact until after. I’m on the power play, I’m trying to score and I’m taking the puck to the net. That’s really all there was to it.”
Bennett is no stranger to controversial hits during the playoffs.
There was a hit on Toronto’s Matthew Knies during their second-round matchup in 2023, and last season Bennett caught then-Bruins forward, now teammate Brad Marchand with a hit to the head.
Both caused injuries, and both times Bennett was not disciplined by the league.
Bennett was asked how he manages when the outside perception of him can be a result of those divisive plays.
“That’s part of the game," he said. "I play a hard style of hockey. I think people get upset by things and worked up, but I try to just tune that out. I’m just trying to play my game, I’m just trying to help our team win and I just try and push all that noise away.”
Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice also spoke on Tuesday morning and had a similar opinion as Bennett and, apparently, the NHL.
“If I thought that Sam (Bennett) had crossed the line or an edge, I’d probably be more careful with my words,” Maurice said. “I just didn't think it happened.”
We’ll see if the Leafs players feel the same way when Florida and Toronto take the ice for Game 2 on Wednesday night.
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