Sam Bennett intentionally injures Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand
Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand ended up on the receiving end of a low-key dirty play by Panthers forward Sam Bennett, resulting in an injury in Round 2.
Marchand has played on the edge throughout his entire NHL career, routinely getting away with things most other players would not. This time, though, he was on the receiving end of a very dirty play, courtesy of Bennett.
During last night's Game 3 between the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers, Marchand had lined Bennett up for a hit in the netural zone. Upon bracing for the hit, though, Bennett delivered a stiff right hook, stick-in-hand to increase the force of the blow, right to the chin of Marchand.
The sucker punch rocked Marchand, sending him down to the ice and sliding into the boards next to the benches. He was clearly shaken up on the play and would leave the game. He did not return and the Panthers went on to win Game 3 by a score of 6-2 to take a 2-1 series lead over Boston.
For those who don't recall, Bennett was responsible for injuring Leafs rookie Matthew Knies in last year's playoffs, after clutching onto the rookie and slamming his onto the ice with force at the beginning of Round 2 of the Leafs/Panthers series, so this type of behaviour is not actually new to him.
It's long past due for the NHL's Department of Player Safety steps in and dispenses some justice. Bennett cannot continue to go around intentionally hurting guys. Injuries happen all the time, but when you start to see one guy as a common denominator, it's probably in everyone's best interest for the league to do something about it.
| POLL | ||
MAI 11 | 955 ANSWERS Sam Bennett intentionally injures Boston Bruins captain Brad Marchand Does Sam Bennett deserve a suspension for sucker punching Brad Marchand, stick-in-hand, to increase the force of the blow? | ||
| Yes | 318 | 33.3 % |
| No | 284 | 29.7 % |
| Karma for Marchand. Nothing to see here | 353 | 37 % |
| List of polls | ||
