NHL comes down on Bennett for his cross-check to the neck of Bunting, but…

After their 3-2 win to take a 2-0 series lead against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night, the Florida Panthers laughed at the idea that Sam Bennett would face discipline for his actions in Game 2.

They were almost right… The NHL did not suspend Bennett for his cross-check to the neck of winger Michael Bunting, but did fine him $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA.

This probably won’t have Maple Leafs’ fans very happy with the decision, especially since Bennett won’t go down either for throwing Leafs rookie Matthew Knies to the ice in the first period.

Knies played the remainder of the first period after the incident with Bennett but was ruled out for the remainder of the game as the second period started. After the loss, Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe commented that the fact that the rookie didn’t finish the game was “not positive,” but he had no further update on his status.

Panthers star Matthew Tkachuk chuckled when asked whether he thought Bennett could face discipline for actions against Knies in his postgame presser.

“I do not think he will hear from player safety on that, no,” Tkachuk said.

Looks like he was right…

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