In today’s world of competitive sports, every decision from the referees is heavily scrutinized. The NHL is no exception, with the referees often facing the heat from the fans for questionable decisions on the ice. One such incident occurred in the game between the Panthers and the Maple Leafs yesterday. In the first game of the second-round tie of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Panthers’ Sam Bennett struck Anthony Stolarz on his head with his elbow. Subsequently, a shocking decision by the referees didn’t go down well with many, as NHL Hall of Famer Chris Pronger called them out.
Despite examining the incident from close range, the referees didn’t award any punishment to Bennett, who got away after hitting Stolarz on the head. As a result, Pronger took to his Twitter handle and penned down a strongly worded message, saying, “I can’t help but think that had the referees called a penalty on this Bennett incident with Stolarz, there would not be as much outcry as there is for supplementary discipline.”
#leafsforever #timetohunt #NHLPlayoffs Stolarz-Bennett
I can’t help but think that had the referees called a penalty on this Bennett incident with Stolarz, there would not be as much outcry as there is for supplementary discipline.
— Chris Pronger (@chrispronger) May 6, 2025
Hours after the incident, the NHL committee also let off Sam Bennett and decided against awarding him a supplemental penalty. Moreover, Bennett also apologized to his friend Stolarz, saying, “I heard that he went to the hospital last night, and Stolie is a good friend of mine. I reached out to him. He responded. And obviously, never want to see an injury like that. From my point of view, I’m just taking the puck to the net. I didn’t even know that we made contact until after. And, I mean, I’m on the power play. I’m trying to score. I’m taking the puck to the net. And, yeah, that’s really all there was to it.”
Despite the controversial incident, it was the Maple Leafs who held their nerves and dished out a thrilling 5-4 win in the first game of the tie. However, they are set to receive a major boost as star player Aaron Ekblad is set to return.
Panthers receive a huge boost ahead of Game 2 amidst Sam Bennett controversy
In the first-round tie against the Lightning, Panthers’ Ekblad was suspended for two games after elbowing Brandon Hagel in Game 4. The suspension came into effect in Game 5, and Ekblad also missed the first game against the Maple Leafs. However, with the suspension served now, Ekblad is all set to return, boosting the Panthers’ chances in the tie.
Talking about Ekblad, Panthers coach Paul Maurice said, “It brought a little bit of fun back to the group. You forget how big [Ekblad] is (6-foot-4, 220 pounds), and then he steps on the ice and you’re like, ‘Oh man, we’re big now,’ because [Seth] Jones (6-4, 213) is also on the ice. … We’re putting our lines together, and you forget about him because he hasn’t been in the lineup so long. It’ll be pretty good when he’s back out there. It’s just a reminder of how good a player he is, and how good it is to have him back.’’
The second game between the Panthers and the Maple Leafs takes place tomorrow, and it promises to be another action-packed evening. Can the Panthers make a strong comeback? Let us know your views in the comments below.
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