In Game 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs’ second round, we saw a pretty heated moment when Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett made a controversial hit on Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz. So, halfway through the second period, Bennett was charging toward the net during a power play when he ended up making contact with Stolarz, hitting him in the back of the head with his right arm.
After the hit, Stolarz looked pretty rough, even throwing up on the bench, and he was later taken to the hospital for a check-up. Also, there was no penalty for the collision during the game, and even after the match, the NHLPA made an announcement about it. But this got a certain reaction from a Maple Leafs star.
Anna Dua shared on X that “Scott Laughton when asked what the team’s response tonight should be to the Sam Bennett hit that took Anthony Stolarz out of the game: ‘To win.’” The Toronto Maple Leafs forward’s response shows a mature and disciplined mindset, highlighting that the team should keep their focus on their performance rather than on getting back at anyone.
Instead of getting caught up in emotional or physical retaliation that might throw them off their game or lead to penalties, Laughton’s comment suggests that the smartest way to respond to the Panthers — especially Bennett’s hit — is to keep their cool, follow their game plan, and focus on winning. The Leafs are really focused on the bigger picture of moving forward in the playoffs, not letting individual incidents throw them off track.
Scott Laughton when asked what the team’s response tonight should be to the Sam Bennett hit that took Anthony Stolarz out of the game:
“To win.”
— Anna Dua (@AnnaNoelleDua) May 7, 2025
This is a developing report…
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