Panthers beat Bruins to take semi-final series lead
One game after Sam Bennett punched Brad Marchand out of the playoffs, the Florida Panthers forward sent the rest of the Boston Bruins to the brink of elimination with an equally controversial shove to Charlie Coyle’s back.
Already drawing boos in TD Garden because of a hit on Marchand that the Bruins are calling a sucker punch, Bennett on Sunday scored the game-tying goal in Game 4 after sending Coyle tumbling into Boston goalie Jeremy Swayman.
The goal was upheld by the NHL replay center in Toronto, and Aleksander Barkov scored the game-winner four minutes later to lead Florida to a 3-2 victory and a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semi-final series.
“I’m putting that puck in before Swayman’s going to be able to get over there, whether Coyle was on him or not. So, I think that’s the reason why it stood,” Bennett said. “And that’s how I saw it, as well.”
Playing without Marchand, their captain and leading scorer in the post-season, Boston jumped to a 2-0 lead with goals from David Pastrnak and Brandon Carlo. Swayman made 38 saves, but he was covered up by Coyle when Bennett tied the game 3 minutes, 41 seconds into the third period.
“The fact is that my own player was pushed into me by theirs and I couldn’t play my position,” Swayman said.
Bennett on Sunday night denied that he had tried to hit Marchand, saying he was bracing himself for the collision when he made contact with the Boston forward’s head.
Marchand was scratched from Game 4 and was reportedly in the concussion protocol.
“People can have their opinions. I know it definitely wasn’t intentional,” Bennett said. “It’s unfortunate that he got hurt. Obviously, he’s a heck of a player and a big part of that team. So, it’s unfortunate, but by no means was that an intentional punch in the face.”
In Alberta, Vancouver rookie goalie Arturs Silovs stopped 42 shots, Brock Boeser had two goals and an assist, and Elias Lindholm scored twice as the Canucks held on to beat the Edmonton Oilers 4-3 to take a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference playoff series.
“The kid has given us game,” Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet said of the goalie. “It’s a big stage and he’s not blinking. He’s coming in every day and he’s working hard.”
Quinn Hughes and J.T. Miller each had two assists for the Canucks.