FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Things We (Think We) Know. Series III, Volume IV.
Things We Know
Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett once again ended up on the opposing goalie, Stu Skinner, in Game 2. This is not the first time in these playoffs that Bennett has fallen onto goaltenders. His repeated landings on goalies` limbs and heads have become as regular an occurrence as blue jays returning to their nest at the end of each day. Essentially, all Bennett seems to be missing in Skinner`s crease through two games of the Stanley Cup Final are some twigs, his young, and a beak full of worms.
Things We (Think We) Know
If NHL series manager Kris King hasn`t already taken notice of Bennett`s consistent habit of colliding with goalies, he is certainly being made aware of it. Reportedly, representatives from the Edmonton Oilers, such as coach Kris Knoblauch and/or GM Stan Bowman, bring up their complaints about the sturdy Panthers winger every morning before a game when meeting with King.
While it`s true that every team desires a player with Sam Bennett`s characteristics, the question arises: where does the act of potentially injuring goaltenders fit within hockey`s often unclear definition of “good, physical play” and the commonly stated sentiment that “no one wants to see anyone get hurt out there”?
