Matthew Tkachuk Caught Red-Handed Celebrating Sam Bennett for Nasty Collision With Stuart Skinner

Bennett was assessed a 2-minute minor for goaltender interference. While he sat in the penalty box, television cameras caught his teammate Matthew Tkachuk, who was also penalized, appearing to congratulate Bennett for his actions by patting him several times on the chest.

Earlier in the game, Bennett had made NHL history by becoming the all-time leading goal scorer on the road during a single postseason; it was his 12th goal away from home ice in the 2025 postseason and his 3rd goal in the last pair of games.

Bennett somehow avoided further punishment by the NHL Department of Player Safety after his controversial collision with Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender and former Panthers teammate Anthony Stolarz in the ECSF, a play which resulted in Stolarz missing the remainder of the series that Florida won in 7 games.

Bennett was also recently seen appearing to deliver a blatant elbow to the head of Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen during the ECF, a play that went unpenalized.

He's set to become a UFA on the open market this summer, and is going to be one of the more coveted players up for grabs.