FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Analyzing points we believe are true. Series III, Volume IV.
What We Know
In Game 2, Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett ended up on top of Oilers goalie Stu Skinner. This incident, where he either fell, was pushed, or had his heel struck, marks another instance in these playoffs where Bennett has collided with an opposing goaltender.
Bennett seems to land on goaltenders` bodies and heads with the regularity of blue jays returning to their nest. After two games of the Stanley Cup Final, the only things missing from Bennett`s presence in Skinner`s crease are nesting materials and hatchlings.
What We (Likely) Know
It`s highly probable that series supervisor Kris King is well aware of Bennett`s recurring collisions, as he likely receives numerous complaints about the rugged Panthers forward from Edmonton Oilers coach Kris Knoblauch or GM Stan Bowman during their pre-game meetings.
While any team would value a player like Sam Bennett for his physicality, one has to question where the act of potentially injuring goaltenders fits within hockey`s unwritten rules about “good, physical play” and the common sentiment that “nobody wants to see anyone get hurt.”
Tristan Blackwood