Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett is public enemy number 1 right now for the Boston Bruins and he finally addressed the media regarding his actions after game 4.
Bennett is facing a wave of criticism from Boston Bruins fans after his recent actions on the ice. Bennett's sucker punch to Bruins captain Brad Marchand, which went unpunished by the NHL, has fueled outrage, particularly as Marchand is now sidelined with an upper-body injury.
In Game 4, Bennett further stoked tensions by scoring a goal that many argue should have been disallowed due to interference. Despite hitting Charlie Coyle into Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman before scoring, no penalty was called, adding fuel to the fire of fan frustration.
When asked about the backlash, Bennett surprisingly embraced his role as the series' villain, stating that he enjoyed the intensity brought by the hostile reception from Bruins fans.
"It was pretty awesome. I've never got booed before I don't think, so it was a new experience that I, I kind of enjoyed it. It made the game that much more intense, much more exciting for me. So, yeah, bring it on.»
While Bennett's actions have sparked controversy, it's a hit on Marchand from Game 3 that has hockey fans buzzing. A new angle suggests Bennett may have delivered a sucker punch during the collision, raising questions about his conduct on the ice.
Despite calls for intervention from the NHL's Department of Player Safety, Bennett remains unpunished, leaving many to wonder if his behavior will face further scrutiny in the remainder of the series.
