TORONTO – SPORTS – The Toronto Maple Leafs may have opened their second-round playoff series with a hard-fought 5-4 victory over the Florida Panthers, but the win has been eclipsed by a wave of anger and concern following a controversial collision involving Florida forward Sam Bennett and Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz.
Sam Bennett Under Fire After Collision with Leafs Goalie
The incident occurred in the second period of Game 1 when Bennett, charging the crease during a Panthers power play, made contact with Stolarz’s head. Three minutes later, during a stoppage, Stolarz vomited on the bench and was later taken by stretcher to hospital.
Although no penalty was assessed on the play and Bennett was not disciplined by the NHL, the moment has reignited fury in Toronto, where fans and pundits alike are accusing the Panthers forward of targeting the Leafs netminder.
Bennett insists the collision was accidental.
“I didn’t even know we’d made contact until after,” he said Tuesday. “I was trying to score. That’s really all there is to it.”
Still, for many in Toronto, the optics are all too familiar.
Stolarz Back with Team, Status for Game 2 Uncertain
The good news for Leafs Nation is that Stolarz, who was playing in place of the injured Ilya Samsonov, was back at the team facility on Tuesday.
“He’s doing well. He’s here,” head coach Craig Berube confirmed.
However, Berube stopped short of confirming whether Stolarz will be available for Game 2 on Wednesday, nor did he clarify if the goalie had suffered a concussion.
Tensions High as History Between Bennett and Leafs Resurfaces
The outrage stems in part from Bennett’s history with the Leafs. In the 2023 playoffs, Bennett delivered a controversial hit to rookie Matthew Knies, resulting in a concussion that sidelined Knies for the remainder of the series. That incident left a lasting scar in Toronto’s hockey memory, and Monday night’s events have reopened old wounds.
Even Florida coach Paul Maurice acknowledged the intensity surrounding his player:
“I’ve seen every hit Sam Bennett’s thrown since he was 12 years old on TV this morning,” Maurice joked, before defending his player, saying he didn’t believe Bennett crossed the line.
Toronto Fans, Media Furious as NHL Declines to Discipline Bennett
With no disciplinary action taken by the league, the city of Toronto remains on edge. Fans have been vocal online and at Scotiabank Arena, where Bennett was booed every time he touched the puck following the incident.
Berube, a former NHL enforcer himself, said he’s instructing his team to remain disciplined—despite the provocation.
“When I played, somebody probably would have done something right away,” he laughed. “Probably me.”
But in today’s NHL, retribution comes in the form of goals and wins. Still, all eyes will be on Game 2 Wednesday night as tensions boil and a budding playoff rivalry intensifies.