Sam Bennett is creating more and more controversies in the series against the Bruins

The most recent most disliked person for Boston Bruins fans has a name (Sam Bennett), a team (the Florida Panthers), and a purpose (to keep playing “outside-the-lines” hockey).

None of that changed in Game 4 after Bennett had already made the headlines with a sucker punch that injured Bruins captain Brad Marchand forcing him to miss Sunday’s contest.

This time, Bennett found a new way to drive Bruins fans mad by scoring a highly controversial goal in Game 4 that tied the game at 2-2 in the third period before Florida scored a third and game-winning goal later in that frame.

Approaching the fourth minute of play in the third period of Game 4, Bennett found a loose puck in front of the Bruins net. He shot it into an open net without much opposition, at least watching the play happen live.

“I’m putting that puck in before Swayman’s going to be able to get over there, whether Charlie Coyle was on him or not. So, I think that’s the reason why it stood,” Bennett said after the game during an interview on TNT.

Did Sam Bennett Push Coyle, Score Illegal Goal Against Bruins?

The controversy emerging from Bennett’s goal is related to his pushing of a Bruins player on the crease. That cross-checking made Coyle collide with netminder Jeremy Swayman and prevented the goalie from attempting a save.

The replay of the play shows Bennett cross-checking Coyle from the back to open enough room in the crease for him to shoot the puck into the net.

Swayman could not do anything to move toward Bennett on the play after he pushed Coyle into him. He explained why the goal shouldn’t have been allowed after review during his postgame media availability on May 12.

“The fact is that my own player (Coyle) was pushed into me by theirs (Bennett) and I couldn’t play my position,” Swayman said after the game (h/t Bruins Daily) when asked about the controversial goal.

Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery delivered an honest statement about what the refs explained to him following Bennett’s goal. Reporters asked him about the play and what the officials told him during his postgame presser on Sunday, May 12.

“The play (Bennett’s pushing of Coyle) didn’t interfere with the goal,” Montgomery said during his press conference. “That’s the explanation I got.”

According to the NHL rulebook, and Rule 69.1 in particular (via The Associated Press), “If a defending player has been pushed, shoved, or fouled by an attacking player so as to cause the defending player to come into contact with his own goalkeeper, such contact shall be deemed contact initiated by the attacking player for purposes of this rule, and if necessary a penalty assessed to the attacking player and if a goal is scored it would be disallowed.”

The officials, whoever, allowed Bennett’s goal and helped Florida mount their come-from-behind victory. Boston had opened Game 4 with a 2-0 lead scoring both goals in the first period.

Bruins GM to Speak on Monday Following Controversy

While coach Montgomery didn’t want to discuss Bennett’s game-tying goal in detail, more comments are expected on Monday, May 13.

The Bruins' General Manager Don Sweeney will speak to the media the day after the Game 4 defeat, as announced by the franchise on Sunday night, according to Ty Anderson.

Bruins vs. Panthers: A Conflict With Sam Bennett as the Main Character

This new development will only contribute to the ongoing drama and side stories created during the first four games of the second-round series.

In Game 3, Bennett delivered a cheap shot to Bruins captain Brad Marchand, causing his injury and leading to his absence in Game 4. However, on Sunday, Bennett denied trying to punch or harm Marchand.

“Obviously I’m not trying to punch him in the head like everyone’s saying,” Bennett stated on Sunday, May 12. “Other people can have different opinions. I braced myself for him coming to hit me.”

After mentioning that some retaliation “could happen” before Game 4, the Bruins rose to the challenge. Boston’s players didn’t hesitate to bring additional physicality to the game on Sunday.

Pat Maroon, acquired specifically for his tough approach before the March 8 trade deadline, exchanged words with Bennett throughout the game. He also communicated with Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky during the pregame warmups.

David Pastrnak punched Anton Lundell in the face. This action led the Bruins player to sit in the penalty box for two minutes with a minor penalty.

Charlie McAvoy initiated some action by delivering a solid hit on Panthers’ Sam Reinhart just a few seconds into the game.