Sam Bennett and Nikita Zadorov Love Playing The Role of the Heel

The Boston Bruins also have that heel character on their roster, Brad Marchand. However, in this case, he is the baby face after the cowardly heel knocked him out for Game 4. Bennett punched Marchand in the head in Game 3. From the initial angle, it was hard to see if Bennett caught him with a punch in the head. However, when the new angle emerged Sunday night, it was clear that Bennett got away with one.

The storyline continues to build heading into Game 5 of the second-round series after the incident that Bennett tied Game 4 at 2-2. Like in professional wrestling, good heels know how to get away with things to get the victory. Sometimes, they get caught, but in this case, with Sam Bennett, he did not for the second time.

Bennett was involved in a controversial goal in Game 4 that led to Florida tying the game on the power play.

As documented on Full Press Hockey, Benntett shoved Bruins forward Charlie Coyle into Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman. Bennett creates separation between the player and the puck. He prevented Swayman from playing his position and deposited the puck into an empty net. Though it was clear as day it was a penalty and no goal, the NHL thought otherwise.

Again, Bennett plays the role of a heel so well. He has done so since his days with the Calgary Flames against the Edmonton Oilers in the Battle of Alberta. Just ask those Oilers players how much fun it was playing against Bennett. Boston is finding out for the second year in a row that they are dealing with a deviant heel.

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Then we have Nikita Zadorov in Vancouver. Before Game 3, Zadorov commented about the city of Edmonton that did not endear him to Oilers fans.

Again, cutting a great promo is part of being a great heel. As a heel you need to have the crowd against you. Zadorov did just that with his comments, similar to what MJF does on the mic, CM Punk, Macho Man Randy Savage, or the Rock. The list goes on of great talkers.

Now add that Zadorov has already scored in the series and ended the game by cross-checking Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid in the back before the cross-check by Carson Soucy to his face. You have a heel figure playing for the Canucks in Edmonton.

Every series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs sees one player or two play from one team or another as the heel. In the case of the Boston Bruins, it’s Sam Bennett of the Panthers. For the Edmonton Oilers, it’s Nikita Zadorov of the Vancouver Canucks.

Without heels, there would be no babyfaces fighting against them. While we want the babyface to win, the heel sometimes goes over. So far, Bennett and Zadorov are. That is their objective, and they look for both players to continue to cause chaos and push the envelope of the rulebook because that is what a good heel does.

Does the Babyface team have a comeback in them, or will the heels, Sam Bennett and Nikita Zadorov, have their hands held high once again?

One thing is for sure these two players will find a way to make an impact in their next game.