Why Panthers’ Sam Bennett wasn’t suspended after Stolarz hit incident

Sam Bennett’s collision with Anthony Stolarz during Game 1 instantly caught attention. The NHL talks often about keeping players safe, but actions like these make that message harder to trust. Fans and analysts are left wondering what level of contact warrants a penalty or suspension, especially when the player on the receiving end is a goalie.Following the match, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. It was announced that Bennett would face no suspension or fine. That decision sparked immediate backlash. Especially from Leafs fans who believe the hit was reckless.The NHL often bases discipline on intent as much as result. In this case, officials reportedly saw the elbow as unintentional. Bennett had possession of the puck and was making a play toward the goal. With multiple bodies near the crease, the league may have considered the contact incidental rather than targeted.Some argue that Bennett wasn’t acting with clear intent to injure. Still, even without malicious intent, elbowing a goalie in the head during a high-speed playoff game carries serious consequences. Stolarz’s removal from the game only heightened concern.The league’s history on these incidents hasn’t been consistent. The last time a playoff suspension involved a goalie was in 2012, when Andrew Shaw hit Mike Smith. That hit happened behind the net and looked deliberate. Bennett’s case was more subtle, with gray areas that made a suspension harder to justify.Stolarz also took a puck to the face earlier in the game. It’s unclear whether that hit or Bennett’s elbow caused his injury. The confusion surrounding what exactly triggered his condition might have influenced the league’s leniency.This situation highlights the continuing debate around goaltender protection. Goalies, by nature, are more exposed during games. They don’t deliver checks and are expected to be shielded in their crease. Yet, time and again, we see contact go unpunished; especially in the playoffs.Read more: Maple Leafs aim to extend lead in game 2 against PanthersSam Bennett avoided suspension, but the discussion around his hit on Stolarz won’t go away soon. As long as rules remain open to interpretation. Cases like this will continue to divide fans and analysts alike. In a game where goaltending is crucial, the league must be clearer; and more consistent. Mostly about how it protects its most vulnerable players.