TORONTO – Sam Bennett continues to prosper from his 4 Nations Faceoff expertise with Canada and the absence of stud Florida Panthers teammate Matthew Tkachuk.
Filling in for the injured Tkachuk on the ability play, Bennett scored twice to carry the Stanley Cup champions to a 3-2 win towards the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.
Tkachuk scored on the ability play late within the first interval and once more within the second earlier than 19,201 followers at Scotiabank Area to present the Atlantic Division-leading Panthers (41-22-3) their seventh win in eight outings.
The second-place Maple Leafs (39-23-3) misplaced for the fourth time in 5 video games, failing to defeat a Panthers crew that additionally lacking newcomer Brad Marchand (higher physique) and Aaron Ekblad (suspension).
“We don’t look the identical with out these guys, however we play the identical manner,” Florida head coach Paul Maurice stated.
“Matthew is irreplaceable on the ability play, however Sam has stepped up fairly good.”
Bennett is three weeks faraway from serving to Canada defeat Tkachuk and the USA within the 4 Nations remaining.
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The 28-year-old ahead scored the tying 2-2 aim in Canada’s 3-2 additional time win and has returned to the Panthers to attain 4 instances with 9 factors in 9 video games.
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“You possibly can study lots from a match like that with all of the expertise there, and seeing how laborious everybody competes and takes care of themselves off the ice,” Bennett stated.
“All of the little issues that make the very best gamers on this planet, the very best gamers on this planet. I positively was watching some guys fairly carefully.”
When requested if there was anyone particularly Bennett didn’t hesitate so as to add, “Yeah, the 2 large canines. Sid (Crosby) and Nate (MacKinnon).”
Bennett has 22 objectives with 18 video games remaining this season. He’s simply six shy of his career-high of 28.
Bennett hails from Holland Touchdown, a small neighborhood about 50 minutes north of Toronto. The Panthers ahead nonetheless will get a kick out of returning house to play in entrance of family and friends.
“I all the time love enjoying right here,” he stated. “Each time I play right here, I get plenty of assist. It’s particular any time you may play in entrance of people that grew up with you and have been supporting me my total profession.”
Whereas the Panthers performed with out three of their greatest gamers, the Maple Leafs noticed the return of Chris Tanev (higher physique) after a six-game absence.
Apart from injured Max Pacioretty, this was Toronto’s playoff lineup.
The distinction was particular groups. The Maple Leafs went 0 for 3 on the ability play, in comparison with Florida’s 2-for-3 night.
“I assumed we did quite a lot of good issues,” stated Toronto head coach Craig Berube stated. “You all the time need to be higher. “We’ve to push by this and get higher. However we competed laborious, and it was a tough recreation. It was a troublesome, tight hockey recreation on the market. We had our power-play alternatives, and we didn’t capitalize on them, they usually did.”
Defenceman Niko Mikkola scored the Panthers’ different aim.
John Tavares, along with his twenty seventh, and Max Domi replied for Toronto.
Pictures on aim have been 25-25. Toronto goalie Anthony Stolarz misplaced for the second time in two begins towards his former membership this season.
Tavares and Bennett traded first-period objectives earlier than Mikkola and Bennett scored within the second.
Domi caught the Panthers on a nasty line change to tug the Maple Leafs inside 3-2, 4:26 into the ultimate interval. However Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky shut down the house aspect the remainder of the way in which.
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed March 13, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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