Bennett (illness) is expected to play in Friday's game versus the Blues, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports.
Bennett missed one game due to the illness. He warmed up on the third line, so it's possible his minutes are managed during the contest, but he should still see power-play time. Bennett is tracking toward a career year with 13 goals and 27 points over 31 appearances this season.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Sam Bennett: Considered game-time decision
Rotowire
Bennett (illness) is considered a game-time decision for Friday's game against the Blues, Colby Guy of The Palm Beach Post reports.
Bennett missed Wednesday's game against the Wild due to an illness, and it's not yet clear whether he'll be able to suit up Friday. If he's unavailable, Adam Boqvist will likely move up from the blue line since Jesper Boqvist (upper body) will be sidelined.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Sam Bennett: Out Wednesday
Rotowire
Bennett will miss Wednesday's tilt against Minnesota because of an illness, Jessi Pierce of NHL.com reports.
Bennett has 13 goals, 27 points, 39 PIM and 71 hits in 31 appearances in 2024-25. Aleksander Barkov (illness) is also questionable, so the Panthers might need to call up reinforcements from AHL Charlotte.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Sam Bennett: Riding seven-game point streak
Rotowire
Bennett notched an assist, four shots on goal and nine PIM in Saturday's 3-1 win over the Sharks.
Bennett set up Matthew Tkachuk's goal just 23 seconds into the game. The helper moved Bennett's point streak to seven games (four goals, four assists). He also fought Mario Ferraro in the third period. Bennett continues to bring an excellent mix of offense and grit on the Panthers' second line. He's contributed 13 goals, 13 helpers, six power-play points, 82 shots on net, 61 hits, 39 PIM and a minus-3 rating over 27 contests.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Sam Bennett: Sparks third-period comeback
Rotowire
Bennett scored a goal on three shots in Tuesday's 5-4 overtime loss to the Penguins.
Bennett had the first of three goals in a span of 4:32 for the Panthers in the middle of the third period. That was enough to help them salvage a standings point. This was Bennett's fourth straight game with a goal and fifth in a row with a point. He's up to 13 tallies, 11 helpers, 77 shots on net, 53 hits, 28 PIM and a minus-5 rating while filling the second-line center role in a strong offense.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Sam Bennett: Goals in three straight games
Rotowire
Bennett scored a goal Saturday in a 6-0 win over Carolina.
Bennett has put up a goal in three consecutive games, and he has points in four straight (three goals, two assists). He also has 14 shots during the streak. Bennett has put up 40 points or more in each of the last three seasons, but he's on an even greater pace in 2024-25. His 12 goals, 11 assists and 74 shots in 24 games put Bennett on pace for 78 points and 252 shots, both of which would be career bests. That's a big stretch for a 28-year-old whose best totals came in 2021-22 (28 goals, 49 points, 241 shots), but never say never. Ride the Bennett wave for now until his pace slows.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Sam Bennett: Fills empty cage
Rotowire
Bennett scored an empty-net goal on six shots, added two hits and went plus-2 in Friday's 6-3 win over the Hurricanes.
Bennett has scored in back-to-back games and has two goals and five assists over his last eight outings. The 28-year-old center continues to look hungry in his contract year. He's up to 11 goals, 11 helpers, 70 shots on net, 50 hits, 26 PIM and a minus-6 rating over 23 appearances. So far, that's been a fantasy goldmine, but his 15.7 shooting percentage will likely dip, if not drop outright, over time.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Sam Bennett: Goal, assist in win
Rotowire
Bennett delivered his 10th goal of the season and added an assist in Wednesday's 5-1 win over Toronto.
Bennett had a pair of points in the third period to help Florida snap a four-game losing streak. The Ontario native has been very consistent this season, as he's only been held off the scoresheet on five occasions through 22 games. Bennett is poised for a career year in his 11th NHL season -- he's currently just under a point-per-game pace, and he's never topped 49 points as a professional. If he can stay healthy, the left-shot center should pass that number with ease given his top-six role and spot on the man advantage. Bennett is up to 10 goals and 11 assists, and he's tied for second on the team in scoring with Aleksander Barkov, though the latter has played seven less games.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Sam Bennett: Dishes helper
Rotowire
Bennett recorded an assist, two shots and a minus-2 rating during Monday's 4-1 loss to the Capitals.
Bennett got back on the scoresheet after being blanked in his previous two outings. The 28-year-old has notched an impressive nine goals and 10 helpers over 21 games and is on track to smash his previous career-high of 49 points in 71 contests, a mark he set during the 2021-22 season.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Sam Bennett: Deals assist in return
Rotowire
Bennett notched an assist, two shots on goal and three hits in Thursday's 6-2 loss to the Devils.
Bennett missed Tuesday's game against the Devils due to an injury concern that tightened up on him prior to the contest. It's unclear if this issue will be an ongoing one or if he's fully moved past it. The 28-year-old has been one of the Panthers' most important forwards in 2024-25, racking up nine goals, seven assists, 49 shots on net, 35 hits, 16 PIM and a minus-1 rating over 16 contests. Bennett should be locked in as the second-line center when he's available.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Sam Bennett: Good to return Thursday
Rotowire
Bennett (upper body) is set to play Thursday against New Jersey, per Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site.
Bennett missed Tuesday's 4-1 loss to New Jersey. Before that absence, he was red hot, recording six goals and 10 points across his past nine appearances. Bennett is projected to play alongside Jesper Boqvist and Matthew Tkachuk in his return.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Sam Bennett: Considered game-time decision
Rotowire
Bennett (upper body) is considered a game-time decision for Thursday's matchup against the Devils, Colby Guy of The Palm Beach Post reports.
Bennett was unavailable for Tuesday's game against New Jersey due to an upper-body injury, and it's not yet clear whether he'll be able to suit up in Thursday's rematch. If he's unavailable Thursday, Jesper Boqvist is a candidate to remain in a top-six role.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Sam Bennett: Questionable for Thursday
Rotowire
Bennett (upper body) is improving but remains in doubt ahead of Thursday's clash with New Jersey, Jameson Olive of the Panthers' official site reports.
Head coach Paul Maurice told reporters they would have to see how Bennett is feeling at Thursday's game-day skate, so don't be surprised to see the winger labeled a game-time decision prior to puck drop. Through 15 games this season, the 28-year-old Ontario native is converting at a point-per-game pace, registering nine goals and six helpers, including four power-play points. If Bennett can't play Thursday, look for Jesper Boqvist to remain in a top-six role.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Sam Bennett: Lights lamp Saturday
Rotowire
Bennett scored a goal on two shots in Saturday's 4-3 shootout win over the Flyers.
Bennett has stayed consistent into November, earning a goal, two assists and nine shots on net over his last four games. The 28-year-old forward continues to center the second line, though his ice time has decreased since the Panthers returned to full health up front last week. Bennett has nine goal, six helpers, 47 shots on net, 32 hits and 16 PIM over 15 appearances.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Sam Bennett: Hands out helper
Rotowire
Bennett notched an assist, three shots on goal and two PIM in Thursday's 6-2 win over the Predators.
Bennett saw a six-game point streak end Saturday in Finland versus the Stars, but he bounced back with a helper once the Panthers resumed their schedule stateside. The 28-year-old center is is up to eight goals, six assists, 45 shots on net, 31 hits, 16 PIM and 11 blocked shots over 14 contests. Bennett has never earned a 50-point campaign, but he looks motivated to have a career year as he plays for a new contract.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Sam Bennett: Lights lamp in fifth straight
Rotowire
Bennett produced a power-play goal and an even-strength assist in Monday's 5-2 win over the Sabres.
The 28-year-old found the back of the net for the fifth straight game and the eighth time in 11 outings this season. Bennett appears locked into a spot in Florida's top six, and he's flying toward a career-best campaign with 12 points already, a pace that would shatter the mark of 49 points (28 goals, 21 assists) he amassed over 71 regular-season games in 2021-22.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Sam Bennett: Extends scoring streak Saturday
Rotowire
Bennett notched a goal, two penalty minutes, five hits and a blocked shot in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Islanders.
Bennett has been getting the job done on both sides of the puck of late, scoring in four consecutive contests but also racking up six penalty minutes, 14 shots, 13 hits and three blocked shots in that span. The 28-year-old center has been one of the most consistent players for the Panthers this season after cracking the scoresheet in eight of his 10 appearances this season, tallying seven goals and three assists to go along with 29 hits.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Sam Bennett: Goals in three straight games
Rotowire
Bennett scored a goal on three shots and went plus-2 in Thursday's 3-1 win over the Rangers.
Bennett has three goals and four points over his last three games. The center is tied for fourth in goals early in the season with six over nine contests, and he's added three assists, 33 shots on net, 24 hits, eight PIM and a minus-1 rating. Bennett will see a reduced role once Aleksander Barkov (lower body) returns, but he remains an important part of the Panthers' offense.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Sam Bennett: Nets lone goal in loss
Rotowire
Bennett scored a goal on four shots, added four PIM and levied four hits in Tuesday's 5-1 loss to the Wild.
Bennett broke up Filip Gustavsson's shutout bid with a second-period tally, but that was all Florida could manage. The 28-year-old Bennett has been money early in the season with five goals and three assists over eight contests. He's also logged at least one shot on goal and one hit in each game, for a total of 30 shots and 23 hits. His role will decrease once Aleksander Barkov (lower body) returns, but contract-year Bennett looks to be good news for fantasy managers.
... See More... See Less
Panthers' Sam Bennett: Two-point performance in OT win
Rotowire
Bennett scored a power-play goal and added an even-strength assist in Saturday's 4-3 overtime win over the Golden Knights. He also recorded five shots, three hits and a plus-1 rating.
The 28-year-old banged home his fourth goal of the season early in the second period, then helped set up Gustav Forsling for the winner with just 17 seconds left in OT. Bennett has had a strong start to the season for a Panthers squad currently missing Aleksander Barkov (lower body) and Matthew Tkachuk (illness), piling up seven points in the first seven games.
