Two days after the incident,the famous hit” on NHL team from Boston captain player from the team Boston Bruins, team from Florida forward Sam Bennett shared his thoughts on the action he took during Game 3.
Before a crucial Game 4, which Florida won to lead 3-1 in the series against Boston, TNT interviewed Bennett and Paul Bissonnette asked him about the Marchand situation on May 12.
Bennett said, “People can think what they want. I know I didn’t mean to do it. It wasn’t my intention to punch him in the face.
I was ready for him to hit me. I didn’t have time to think about hitting him in the head.
“People can view it how they like. Playoff hockey involves tough plays. It’s unfortunate he got hit, but I see it as a normal hockey play.”
The Bruins announced that Marchand wouldn’t play Game 4 due to an “upper-body injury” after not attending an optional practice earlier on Sunday, May 12. The Panthers won 3-2 with the Bruins captain absent.
Sam Bennett ‘Protected Himself’ From Marchand’s Hit
Before Game 4, Bennett told the TNT analysts that he didn’t intend to harm Marchand with his hit and denied punching the Bruins captain.
TNT aired a different view of the hit not seen before Sunday, showing that Bennett did indeed punch the defenseless Marchand in the head.
Bissonnette tried to understand Bennett’s action by asking if he was trying to make a “reverse hit.” This would have allowed Bennett to protect himself from a hit, as Bissonnette suggested.
“Yes, that’s it,” Bennett replied. “He’s coming at me. Normally, I’d use both hands to protect myself. To protect myself from injury, I’ll do whatever is necessary.
“That’s all there is to it, and as I said, it’s unfortunate he got injured.”
Bennett was referring to the injury he got during Game 2 of the first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning on April 24. Teammate Brandon Montour tried to take a shot, and the puck hit Bennett’s left hand.
Bennett didn’t play for Florida between April 24 and May 10 when he returned for Game 3 against the Boston Bruins last Friday, making the hit on Marchand.
Sam Bennett Heard the Criticism & Embraced the Villain Role
Bennett has been central to the main story of the Stanley Cup playoffs midway through the second round after punching Marchand.
Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery was the first to mention the punch before Game 4. Then, Panthers coach Paul Maurice provided a one-word response to Montgomery’s remarks.
On Sunday, May 12, before Game 4, Bennett discussed the recent comments about him and his hit on Marchand and seemed content with embracing the role of the villain and being the main target in Boston.
“Yeah, I experienced a bit of it last year in Toronto, and now I guess I’m getting used to it,” Bennett informed the TNT crew.
Last season, Bennett struck Matthew Knies from Toronto in the playoffs. Matthew Knies in the playoffs delivering a similar shot to the face with his right hand, which led to Bruins’ Montgomery said there’s “history” with Bennett’s actions on May 11.
