Jonah Gadjovich/Sam Bennett: Florida Panthers Stanley Cup Final Practice Before Game 4 v Oilers

Jonah Gadjovich/Sam Bennett: Florida Panthers Stanley Cup Final Practice Before Game 4 v Oilers

for Jonah after game three Brad Marshon presented you with the game puck you seemed a little bit surprised on the video just were you expecting that and how much does it mean for you to you know get that kind of support from your team after that game yeah no I wasn’t expecting that but uh know it was cool to get that from him and uh you know it was just such a such a big team effort obviously uh you know everyone anyone could have gotten that puck but uh yeah you know it was fun and uh you know we kind of put that behind us now and uh you know on to the next game right side third row sam this for you uh we’ve seen Gustaf Forsling with his slides stopping plays the stick work that he has to stop plays in the defensive zone whether it’s on the rush what What does that do what kind of security blanket is that for a forward to know that when when you know you’re out there with a guy like that he can do those types of things as well and not just use the you know the body to be physical to stop plays yeah I think he’s he’s one of the best in the league at uh shutting down plays and I mean he he doesn’t have a an easy job at all shutting down um you know they’re they’re top guys they got obviously some guys that have a lot of skill on that team so um you know it’s a it’s a tough job for him but he’s he’s so good at he’s his defensive plays are just you know I think he’s the best defensive um defenseman in the league and his his plays are just um yeah they’re they’re really incredible right side front row sam two years ago it’s no secret you guys were pretty banged up in the final against Vegas and and everyone’s dealing with stuff but how good does it feel this year similar to last year to sort of have guys getting a little healthier whether it’s Sam Reinhardt or Matthew Chuck just being able to sort of get closer to full strength this late in the playoffs yeah it’s definitely um you know it’s a huge uh help being healthy and and having guys healthy but I think with our depth this year um even when when guys are are injured or guys are out of the lineup there’s just so much depth on our team that guys can fill in seamlessly and um doesn’t change our lineup that much um so that’s that’s definitely a huge factor for us left side front row uh for Jonah there was a clip that went viral after last game of a young fan getting interviewed a Panthers fan saying their favorite part of the game was all the fights and how they punched each other a lot just how happy does that make you and what does that mean as you try to kind of as you as you guys look to create new fans to see a young fan kind of leave the game feeling that way all hyped up after all those fights oh man I don’t know how to answer that one I guess but uh I mean that’s funny i’m glad she enjoyed it I guess uh I don’t know uh I’m not really trying to teach kids to do that but uh you know I hope I don’t know i hope they enjoyed the rest of the game too i mean you know for us the biggest part was just getting the win so I think uh you know the fans probably enjoyed that as well right side second roll jonah the guy sitting beside you is on a pretty incredible run here what’s standing out the most about Sam’s play in this playoffs what are you appreciating the most i mean you know he he does it all obviously it’s uh you know fun to watch and uh you know he’s throwing huge hits he’s playing hard defensively he’s you know working pucks in the corners getting to the net obviously scoring a ton of goals and uh you know he’s he’s leading us right now he’s one of the the leaders on the team and uh you know he’s someone that we can all all get behind thanks buddy left side front row yeah jonah to sort of build off James’ question when the line roll did break out in the third period and you’re going through everything just can you take us through a the fight with with Nurse and just how that went and then b just the reaction from the crowd when you’re going off you’re hearing them you raise your you raise your arms pump them up just what’s that like for you when you’re getting the crowd into it and you’re able to see how much they’re appreciating how you guys handled how it went uh yeah I mean uh you know obviously in in situations like that it happens it’s a physical sport and uh you know we we stuck together as a team and uh you know we all got each other’s backs and um yeah I mean I got tied up in nurse and you know we stuck together for a couple minutes there it was felt pretty long and you know at the end of it it was just uh yeah I mean we love playing at home i love playing at home it’s fun to to to feed off the crowd because they’re so loud and so supportive of us and uh you know it was just kind of one of those things uh you know skating to the box looking up and just you know appreciating where I’m at and kind of just soaking it all in but it was you know it was fun and like I said I’m just grateful to have gotten the win and you know now we just move on right side fourth row sam most guys will say that they take it one game at a time but the mats are pretty simple for this one it’s either 2-2 or you guys lead three to one is it uh possible to take it as any other game or do you do something different or because this one is massive right yeah we we certainly won’t change anything for this game um I think our approach has been it’s pretty pretty similar the entire playoffs um whether it’s game one or game seven uh we we play the same style we play this just as hard um we’re not sitting back so we really are not going to be changing anything in in this next game or any other games to come take a few more right side front row hi Sam uh playoffs are a grind you’ve been through a couple of runs now already um you have to be careful off the ice any advice for us reporters that are also on the grind in this series traveling trying to get our rest like what what should we be doing to be at our peak uh that’s a good question um I mean definitely get some sunscreen when you’re in Florida stay out of the sun um lots of lots of protein lots of carbs um and get as much sleep as possible that’s the advice I got excellent thank you left side second row carbs might be the alcohol but uh um stay away from that Sam uh you know Frederick obviously he went after you and and you just absorbed it skated away and it it does feel like the one big maturity of this team the last couple years is playing between the whistles and not getting into the extracurriculars which afterwards which seems to also drive other teams crazy um when did that you know is that essentially a a game plan for you guys to to skate away from this stuff and and when did that change for this organization because Carter was just saying a couple years ago that in that even in the Vegas series that that was a you were an undisiplined team yeah I think I think you learned a lot just from experience just from from us being here um the last couple years we know know what it takes and and um yeah sometimes you got to you got to take a punch and that’s just that’s just part of the game um we have a really focused group this year that our eyes are on one thing and and one thing only and um you know guys are going to stick up for each other guys are going to stand up for each other but um we have one goal in mind and and all that all the other stuff is just distraction distracting and and and just try and get you off your game but um yeah we have one goal in mind and that’s that’s all that we’re really worried about right side fifth throw for both of you um they left the ice obviously a very frustrated team and yesterday they were complaining about calls complain about the way you guys play what are you expecting tomorrow night from them as far as their style you okay uh I mean uh you know they’re they’re going to come out hard obviously uh you know they’re going to bounce back they’re a very very good team and uh you know they’re going to want to answer for for the game that uh you know just happened so yeah we’re expecting their best and uh you know at the end of the day I mean Benny said it you know we just focus on us and uh and our game and you know that’s all that’s all we got time for and that’s that’s got to be our main focus right side fourth row yeah Sam you you’ve been a part of a Stanley Cup final run for the third year in a row here now you’re ahead of game four and it seems like you guys continue to keep things fresh and light at practice is that just the the normal Panther way now yeah I think that’s that’s kind of just evolved over um the years i think we’ve we’ve got looser and looser in the locker room and just around the rink and um we’re a really close team i mean I know everyone says that but um we are and and I think we’ve just found that it works for us staying loose cracking jokes um just trying to be as relaxed as possible and we have a lot of great leaders on this team that really make that that easy and um yeah that’s kind of just the approach that our team’s kind of just really evolved into two more in that same role on the other end um for Sam you know just you’re a little bit talking about the culture of the Panthers there how does Paul’s style and and what he brings as a coach how does that play into what you guys have cultivated here and have you seen a change in him from winning the cup last year yeah he he brings you know a ton to this team i think he he really has control of of this team i mean every single guy respects him so much and and when he speaks you know everyone’s listening and um I think the the team’s really just bought into the culture that he’s uh implemented into this team and we’re we’re all you know willing to do whatever it takes and play that hard style that he keeps preaching to us uh night in and night out and and we’ve all just boughten into that um over the years I Um yeah I don’t think he’s he’s changed since winning he’s he’s the same same he can be hard on us he can be you know he’s hard on us when he when he needs to be and then he’s he’s relaxed with us when you know he knows that we need to so I think he really does have a good feel for for what our team needs and um yeah we we all have uh the most respect for him last one left side front row yeah Father’s Day is coming up for both of you what any any particular part of your game or personality that you get from your dad’s and or do you talk to him during the playoffs or is it you know you’re in your own world at this point yeah uh yeah I mean I I talked to my dad a lot obviously and uh you know he’s very supportive and uh you know I’m looking forward to to Father’s Day i got my own two kids now so um I didn’t see them last year on Father’s Day i missed that but uh this year I’m looking forward to seeing them i think we should be getting home after game five or something like around that time so get to see them and uh you know just en enjoy that time with them sam you want to weigh in on that uh yeah I mean my dad’s here um he’ll be here for the the rest of the playoffs and he’s obviously um meant a ton for me my my entire career so we don’t talk as much uh hockey anymore he kind of lets me do my own thing but uh you know he’s always going to be my biggest supporter and um yeah it’s certainly nice having him here for for these these important moments in my life thanks a lot guys nice guy

Florida Panthers Jonah Gadjovich and Sam Bennett meet the media after their team held a practice in Fort Lauderdale before Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.

The Panthers won Game 3 on Monday, beating the visiting Oilers 6-1; Florida, which is in the Cup Final for the third straight year, hold a 2-1 series lead.

Game 4 of the Cup Final is Thursday in Sunrise at 8 (TNT).

The Panthers Are Back in the Cup Final: https://floridahockeynow.com/florida-panthers-5-carolina-hurricanes-3-game-5-ecf-may-28-2025-back-to-stanley-cup-final/

How Brad Marchand Joined the Florida Panthers: https://floridahockeynow.com/brad-marchand-joins-florida-panthers-how-it-happened-nhl-trade-bruins/

2024 Stanley Cup Champions Honored at the White House: https://floridahockeynow.com/stanley-cup-champion-florida-panthers-honored-at-white-house/

Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning Bringing Hockey Outdoors – In Florida: https://floridahockeynow.com/nhl-outdoor-hockey-miami-tampa-florida-panthers-lightning/

The Florida Panthers Get Their Rings. They’re Spectacular: https://floridahockeynow.com/florida-panthers-get-stanley-cup-championship-rings-theyre-spectacular/

The Florida Panthers Are Stanley Cup Champions: https://floridahockeynow.com/can-you-believe-it-florida-panthers-are-stanley-cup-champs/

Monday, Florida took a 1-0 lead on Brad Marchand’s goal 56 seconds in; Carter Verhaeghe made it 2-0 before the end of the period.

Up 2-1, the Panthers got goals from Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett in the second to open things up.

Aaron Ekblad and Evan Rodrigues scored in a third period that deteriorated quickly.

The two teams combined for 140 penalty minutes.

Sergei Bobrovsky made 32 saves for his second straight win.

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Video Courtesy Florida Panthers / Panthers Vision