Bennett had a goal and an assist in Florida's 5-0 win over Ottawa on Monday.
Bennett entered the contest with just a goal over eight contests this season. He missed Florida's first seven games of the campaign due to a lower-body injury, which also caused him to miss an additional five contests from Nov. 2-10, so it's understandable that the 27-year-old would need some time to regain his rhythm once his injury issues were behind him. For that reason, Bennett's showing Monday was particularly encouraging and might mark a turning point in the campaign. He had 16 goals and 40 points in 63 appearances last season.
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Panthers' Sam Bennett: Ready to rock
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Bennett (lower body) will return to the lineup Sunday against Chicago, Katie Engleson of Bally Sports Florida reports.
Bennett has been activated from injured reserve, per the NHL media site. He logged just 7:54 of ice time versus Boston on Oct. 30 during his season debut after missing the first seven games of the 2023-24 campaign. Bennett will likely center the second line and work on the second power-play unit in Sunday's contest.
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Panthers' Sam Bennett: Surfaces on IR
Rotowire
Bennett (lower body) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, per the NHL media site.
Bennett, who is considered week-to-week, was injured in his season debut against Boston on Oct. 30. He logged just 7:54 of ice time versus the Bruins after missing the first seven games of the 2023-24 campaign. Anton Lundell has been filling in as Florida's second-line center during Bennett's absence.
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Panthers' Sam Bennett: Considered week-to-week
Rotowire
Bennett (lower body) is considered week-to-week, coach Paul Maurice informed Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site Friday.
Bennett missed the first seven contests of the campaign due to a lower-body injury. He attempted to return Monday but logged just 7:54 of ice time before exiting that night's 3-2 overtime loss to Boston. When Bennett is ready to play, he'll likely serve in a top-six capacity and receive a role with the man advantage. The 27-year-old had 16 goals and 40 points in 63 outings last year.
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Panthers' Sam Bennett: More than day-to-day
Rotowire
Bennett's (lower body) timetable is seen as more than day-to-day, coach Paul Maurice told Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site Wednesday.
Bennett started the season on injured reserve due to a lower-body injury. He was activated Monday, but he logged just 7:54 before exiting the night's 3-2 overtime loss to Boston. The 27-year-old forward had 16 goals and 40 points in 63 contests last season. When Bennett is healthy, he will likely serve on the second line and second power-play unit.
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Panthers' Sam Bennett: Suffers injury Monday
Rotowire
Bennett (lower body) will not return to Monday's game against Boston.
Bennett made his season debut Monday but logged just 7:54 of ice time before exiting the contest. He fell awkwardly near the Bruins' net with an opposing skater landing on his left leg. It's unclear if this is related to the injury that held him out of the first seven games of the regular season. An update should be available in the coming days.
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Panthers' Sam Bennett: Removed from IR
Rotowire
Bennett (lower body) was activated from injured reserve Monday, per the NHL media site.
It appears as though Bennett is ready to make his season debut Monday against Boston after being labeled a game-time decision following Florida's morning skate. He is projected to play on the second line between Matthew Tkachuk and Carter Verhaeghe. Bennett produced 16 goals, 40 points, 193 shots on net, 150 hits and 54 PIM in 63 appearances last season.
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Panthers' Sam Bennett: Won't play Saturday
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Bennett (lower body) won't play Saturday against the Kraken, Katie Engleson of Bally Sports Florida reports.
Bennett isn't quite ready to make his season debut Saturday against the Kraken, though it appears he'll have a good chance to play Monday in Boston. The 27-year-old winger tallied 16 goals and 40 points in 63 games with the Panthers last season.
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Panthers' Sam Bennett: Game-time decision
Rotowire
Bennett (lower body) will be a game-time call versus Seattle on Saturday.
Bennett could be in line to make his season debut after having missed the first six games of the season due to his lower-body issue. Injuries limited the winger to just 63 games last season but that didn't stop him from reaching the 40-point mark for the second consecutive campaign. Barring additional injury concerns, Bennett could top that mark again this year.
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Panthers' Sam Bennett: Practices Thursday
Rotowire
Bennett (lower body) took part in Thursday's practice, according to Katie Engleson of Bally Sports Florida.
Coach Paul Maurice will wait to see how Bennett feels Friday before putting him through another practice if all goes well. Bennett hasn't played yet in 2023-24 due to his lower-body injury, and it remains to be seen if he'll be available Saturday versus Seattle. When the 27-year-old does make his season debut, it will likely be as part of the second line.
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Panthers' Sam Bennett: Not available Thursday
Rotowire
Bennett (lower body) won't play Thursday versus Toronto and remains day-to-day beyond that, coach Paul Maurice told Katie Engleson of Bally Sports Florida on Wednesday.
Bennett will miss his fourth straight game due to the lower-body injury. He had 16 goals and 40 points in 63 contests last season. Bennett might serve on the second line once he's healthy.
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Panthers' Sam Bennett: Lands on IR
Rotowire
Bennett (lower body) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, per CapFriendly.
Bennett has missed the Panthers' first three contests of the season due to his lower-body injury. In a corresponding move, Florida added Jonah Gadjovich to the roster on a one-year, one-way contract. If Bennett is ready to return later this week, Florida will need to send someone down to AHL Charlotte.
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Panthers' Sam Bennett: Could miss first two weeks
Rotowire
Bennett (lower body) is doubtful to play Opening Night on Thursday against Minnesota and could end up missing a couple of weeks, according to Colby Guy of Florida Hockey Now.
Bennett was injured in Thursday's preseason game versus the Lightning. He was spotted using a walking boot Saturday morning. Eetu Luostarinen is slated to replace Bennet between Matthew Tkachuk and Nick Cousins on Florida's second line. The 27-year-old Bennett had 16 goals, 24 assists, 193 shots on net and 150 hits in 63 games last season.
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Panthers' Sam Bennett: Leaves Thursday's game
Rotowire
Bennett sustained an undisclosed injury in the second period of Thursday's preseason game versus the Lightning, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports.
Bennett will undergo further evaluation Friday to determine the extent of the injury. It's unclear at this time if he will be available for Opening Night next Thursday versus the Wild. Bennett produced 16 goals and 40 points in 63 appearances last season.
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Panthers' Sam Bennett: Feels healthy for camp
Rotowire
Bennett (lower body) feels healthy after the Panthers' first training camp practice Thursday, Colby Guy of Florida Hockey Now reports.
Bennett played through an injury during the Panthers' run to the Stanley Cup Finals last year. He had 15 points in 20 playoff outings despite the injury. The 27-year-old figures to fill a top-six spot again in 2023-24 -- he's projected to be the Panthers' second-line center behind Aleksander Barkov.
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Panthers' Sam Bennett: Played through injury
Rotowire
Bennett (undisclosed) played through an injury he suffered in the second round versus the Maple Leafs, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports.
Bennett only missed the first game of the postseason, and he finished with 15 points in 20 appearances after notching a goal and an assist in Tuesday's 9-3 loss in Game 5. The nature of the center's injury is unknown, so it's unclear how this might affect his offseason and preparation for 2023-24. He'll be entering the third season of a four-year contract, and he's solidified his place as a middle-six forward for the Panthers.
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Panthers' Sam Bennett: Sets up overtime tally
Rotowire
Bennett posted an assist, four shots on goal, two hits and a plus-2 rating in Thursday's 3-2 overtime win over the Golden Knights in Game 3.
Bennett set up Carter Verhaeghe's goal 4:27 into overtime. While Bennett's gone 11 games without a goal, he's been a solid playmaker with six assists in that span. The 26-year-old is up to 13 points in 18 playoff outings, and he's supported the Panthers' physical style with 74 hits and 60 PIM while adding 66 shots on net and a plus-7 rating.
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Panthers' Sam Bennett: Helps out on game-winner
Rotowire
Bennett logged a power-play assist, six shots on goal, four hits and two PIM in Saturday's 2-1 overtime win over the Hurricanes in Game 2.
For the second game in a row, Bennett assisted on a Matthew Tkachuk goal in overtime. That's now three assists over Bennett's last four contests, though he's gone six games without a goal. The 26-year-old forward has 10 points, 46 shots, 54 hits, 48 PIM and a plus-9 rating through 13 playoff appearances while maintaining a second-line role.
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Panthers' Sam Bennett: Deals helper in fourth overtime
Rotowire
Bennett logged an assist, four shots on goal, four PIM and two blocked shots in Thursday's 3-2 quadruple-overtime win over the Hurricanes in Game 1.
Bennett corralled a turnover from the Hurricanes' defense and fed Matthew Tkachuk for the tally with 13 seconds left in the fourth overtime. This was Bennett's second assist in the last five games, as he wasn't particularly effective on offense in the second round. The 26-year-old has nine points, 40 shots on net, 50 hits, 46 PIM and a plus-9 rating through 12 playoff contests this year.
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Panthers' Sam Bennett: Fined $5,000
Rotowire
Bennett was fined $5,000 by the NHL Department of Player Safety for cross-checking Toronto's Michael Bunting on Thursday.
Bennett was assessed a two-minute minor for his misdeed. He has four goals and seven points in eight playoff games this season. In addition, the 26-year-old has 30 PIM and 39 hits in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Bennett had 16 goals and 40 points with 150 hits in 63 regular-season games.
