Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett (9) is helped off of the ice during the second period of a game against the Boston Bruins at the TD Garden. Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers forward leaves game with injury in season debut

Originally posted on Daily Faceoff | By Steven Ellis | Last updated 10/30/23

Talk about bad luck.

The Florida Panthers announced that Sam Bennett would not return for the third period of Monday’s game against the Boston Bruins after injuring his left ankle.

Bennett was near the Bruins’ left post while battling with Hampus Lindholm. The 27-year-old winger was battling with Lindholm when they connected feet after a puck went through the crease. Bennett went down in a significant amount of pain and did not return.

Brutal.

Sam Bennett got hurt again.

pic.twitter.com/4BpYlcb0gC
— Nick Alberga (@thegoldenmuzzy) October 31, 2023

He was eventually helped off the ice but was unable to put any weight on his left leg before limping back to Florida’s locker room.

Bennett suffered a lower-body injury during a preseason game back on Oct. 5 before finally getting cleared for full practice just last week.

Drafted fourth overall by the Calgary Flames in 2014, is in his fourth season with the Panthers since coming over in a trade from Calgary in 2020-21. Bennett had a career-best 49 points with the club in 2021-22 before registering 40 in 63 games last year. Bennett was an integral piece of Florida’s run to the 2023 Stanley Cup Final, scoring five goals and 15 points in 20 games.

This article first appeared on Daily Faceoff and was syndicated with permission.

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