To be honest, it was only a matter of time. With so many controversial hits going down in the Panthers’ first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, it was almost shocking that Sam Bennett wasn’t associated with any of them. But then the second round came, and Florida’s agitator-in-chief found himself in the middle of a fresh playoff controversy yet again. This time, for his alleged involvement in Leaf’s goalie Anthony Stolarz‘s concussion. And unsurprisingly, the ones leading the charge against the forward were the Leafs faithful.

Early in the game, Bennett, no stranger to postseason scrutiny, drove to the net and made contact with Stolarz, appearing to catch the goalie’s head with his elbow. Minutes later, Stolarz was seen vomiting on the bench before being stretchered to a nearby hospital. He’s since been released, but the incident left a sour taste. Adding to the uncertainty, it’s unclear whether Bennett’s hit or a heavy wrist shot from Panthers forward Sam Reinhart, which struck Stolarz’s mask, caused the injury. No penalty was called, and the NHL’s Department of Player Safety opted against supplemental discipline, leaving Leafs fans fuming.

Bennett stayed quiet post-game but finally addressed the incident on Tuesday. “Stollie is a good friend of mine,” he said, per a TSN Sports post on X. “I reached out to him. He responded. Obviously, never want to see an injury like that. From my point of view, I’m just taking the puck to the net. I didn’t even know we made contact until after. I’m on the power play, I’m trying to score. That’s really all there was to it.” His explanation? Just doing his job, driving to the net on a power play. But for many, it didn’t add up.

Toronto fans, already frustrated, didn’t buy Bennett’s take. One fan on X vented, “Total b******t. Why bother asking the question. Ask him about the ‘coincidence’ of him knocking out 3 players, 3 years in a row all with head injuries and concussions.” In 2023, Matthew Knies sat out the remainder of the series vs. Florida after Bennett body slammed him onto the ice in Game 2, giving him a concussion. During the 2024 second round, Bennett sat his now-teammate Brad Marchand out for the two games in the playoffs after he sucker punched him in Game 3 of Round 2 NHL playoff series. And Stolarz? He also remains a question mark for Game 2.

Surprisingly, Leafs head coach Craig Berube hasn’t ruled him out, despite the apparent severity of the incident. But as the series heats up, Bennett’s comments and the lack of discipline have only deepened the divide, and Leafs fans want some accountability.

Maple Leaf Fans are angry after Sam Bennett says the hit was inadvertent

Toronto Maple Leafs fans are seething after Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett described his controversial hit on a Leafs player as inadvertent, sparking outrage across social media and fan forums. The incident, which left the Leafs player concussed and sidelined, has reignited debates about Bennett’s playing style and the NHL’s handling of player safety. Fans have taken to platforms like X to voice their frustration, with many accusing Bennett of intentionally targeting their player.

“He knows he put his elbow out, the intent was there to hurt him,” wrote one fan, refusing to give Florida’s agitator-in-chief the benefit of the doubt. Another fan said, “He shoved his arm and body forward, and there was follow-through. I hope Stolarz told him to gfy.” Well, while we don’t yet know how Stolarz “responded”, it’s perhaps safe to assume that it was an awkward conversation considering they lifted the Stanley Cup together just a year ago.

Another supporter wrote, “Nope. He knew exactly what he was doing. Look at Stolarz’s head, his neck bent fully sideways, and Bennett’s elbow follows through as he looks at him on the ice. He knew.” As for the Panthers fandom, a lot of them think that Bennett was not at fault. In fact, concussion expert Chris Nowinski, Ph.D., pointed out that Storlarz’s problems started much earlier in the game when a Sam Reinhart shot knocked his mask off his head. “25 seconds after the hit he did a SHAAKE (Spontaneous Headshake after a Kinematic Event) which predicts concussion 72% of the time,” Nowinski explained. But the Leafs faithful are hardly on the same page. “I can’t believe he’s not suspended for this,” wrote another fan, echoing a broader frustration with the league’s decision not to penalize Bennett further, a sentiment amplified by posts on X calling for stricter enforcement.

As the Leafs regroup, the fanbase’s anger shows no signs of relenting, with many demanding accountability and questioning the NHL’s commitment to player safety.