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Sam Bennett Under Fire for Targeting Canes Goalie Andersen with Dirty Elbow like he did to Stolarz

Originally posted on Blade of Steel | By Tom Banks | Last updated May 29, 2025 10:05 AM ET

Sam Bennett has been under fire this post-season for the way he has targeted opposing goalies, and unsurprisingly, he was at it again on Wednesday.

The Florida Panthers are one of the most physical teams in the NHL, and when they go to battle in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, that can often result in some very, very dirty plays.

That's what we've seen throughout this post-season, with Sam Bennett especially coming under fire for the way he has targeted goaltenders, as he took out Maple Leafs star Anthony Stolarz in Game 1, with the veteran not returning in the seven-game series.

Unsurprisingly, he's at it again, as Bennett is once again under fire on Wednesday for doing the exact same thing to Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen, clearly targeting his head.

Once more, this was a clear attempt from Bennett to hit the head of a goaltender, and while it can be seen as simple aggressive, intense play that you need in the post-season, he's taken it too far several times in 2025, but somehow, he continues to avoid discipline.

Not long later, Bennett would exit the penalty box and end the Hurricanes season with an empty net winner, as the Panthers will be headed back to the Stanley Cup Finals for the third straight year.

However, this may eventually catch up with Bennett, as many believe the NHL's Department of Player Safety should get involved, noting that until he is disciplined in some way, he'll continuing doing this.

For now though, he's managed to get away with it and effect all of the series he's played with the Florida Panthers, and with the team succeeding once again, clearly he's doing something right that the DoPS don't want to get involved with.

This article first appeared on Blade of Steel and was syndicated with permission.

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