NHL Player Safety Disciplines Sam Bennett For Similar Sucker Punch That Injured Brad Marchand
The NHL Player Safety has disciplined Sam Bennett for sucker punching Pittsburgh Penguins forward last night, similar to the one that injured Brad Marchand.
Last night, the Pittsburgh Penguins were taking on the Florida Panthers, when Sam Bennett was up to his usual trying to injury players on the other team with a cheap shot.
The Florida Panthers were up 2-1 late in the game, when Sam Bennett sucker punched Pittsburgh Penguins forward Drew O'Connor when he went to throw a hit on him, similar to the play that injured Brad Marchand in the playoffs last year.
The difference is the refs caught it this time, and he got a 2 minute penalty for roughing. The Penguins would make him pay by scoring a power play goal with 39 seconds left in the third period to force overtime.
Pittsburgh commentators compare the play to Bennett's punch on Marchand in the playoffs 😳
Here is the same thing on Brad Marchand last year during the playoffs:
@armdog
@ansoncarterla
@biznasty2point0
Although the Penguins would go on to lose 3-2 in the shootout, they ended up picking up a point because of this terrible play by Sam Bennett.
Unlike when it happened to Brad Marchand in the playoffs, the NHL Player Safety is holding him accountable this time although many feel like he got left off easy with this call.
The NHL Player Safety announced that Sam Bennett was fined $5,000 which is the maximum allowed under the CBA for roughing Drew O'Connor.
After Sam Bennett sucker punched Brad Marchand, he would go on to miss up until game 6, when the Bruins would ultimately be eliminated by the Florida Panthers.
