Florida Panthers Star Bracing for NHL Punishment After Game 1 Loss to Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs took a 1-0 series lead over the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Monday, but the story of the game was an incident that happened in the second period.

Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz left the game in the second period after taking an elbow to the head from Panthers forward Sam Bennett in the crease.

The 31-year-old goalie went crashing to the ice and immediately grabbed his head, signaling a possible concussion. He sat on the bench for a few minutes before he started vomiting and was helped to the back.

The Athletic’s Chris Johnston reported that Stolarz left on a stretcher in the third period after being replaced by Joseph Woll. Toronto head coach Craig Berube told reporters after the game Stolarz was being evaluated but there was no official update on his condition.

The Maple Leafs’ first-year head coach then admitted he didn’t know what a penalty wasn’t called on Bennett.

“Elbow to the head, clearly,” Berube said. “Clear as day. … I’m not sure why there wasn’t a call on it. But I get it, they miss calls, but it’s clearly a penalty.”

The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun reported moments after the game that Bennett will likely be hearing from the NHL Department of Player Safety about the hit.

Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) and St. Louis Blues left wing Jake Neighbours (63) fight during the first period at Enterprise Center.Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

“NHL Player Safety looks at everything and so yes of course they are having a conversation internally about Bennett/Stolarz,” LeBrun wrote. “But not clear at this point whether Player Safety thinks it warrants anything or not.”

While Berube (and most of social media, for that matter) believes there should have been a penalty called on Bennett, he disclosed that an official told him he saw the play happen and didn’t think it warranted a penalty.

“Again, that is not up to me,” Berube said. “It is up to the league. They will do what they think is necessary on that play. It is not for me to comment on. That is their job, and they will do it.”

For what it’s worth, the NHL Department of Player Safety suspended Panthers defenseman Aaron Ekblad two games back on April 29 for elbowing Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel in the head.

If the DPS does feel Bennett’s incident does, in fact, deserve a punishment, he would likely face similar repercussions as Ekblad.

Florida Panthers Star Bracing for NHL Punishment After Game 1 Loss to Maple Leafs

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