Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett is scheduled to have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Monday.
Bennett is facing potential discipline for boarding Tampa Bay forward Blake Coleman midway into the third period of the Panthers’ 5-4 loss to the Lightning on Sunday. The contest was the opener of the teams’ first-round series.
Bennett, 24, received a minor penalty for charging at 12:19 of the third period. The Panthers, who were nursing a 4-3 lead at the time, allowed a goal to Brayden Point on the ensuing power play. Point tallied again with 1:14 remaining in the third period to give the Lightning a 5-4 advantage.
Bennett notched a pair of assists early in the third period on Sunday. He recorded 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) in 48 games this season with the Calgary Flames and Panthers.
Bennett has collected 155 points (73 goals, 82 assists) in 412 career games since being selected by the Flames with the fourth overall pick of the 2014 NHL Draft.
Game 2 of the series is scheduled for Tuesday in Sunrise, Fla.
–Field Level Media
