<p>Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett is not expected to face supplemental discipline after landing a hit to the head on Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz, <a href="https://x.com/reporterchris/status/1919746836274786685">The Athletic&#8217;s Chris Johnston reports</a>.</p>
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<p><a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-anthony-stolarz-leaves-game-1-florida-panthers-apparent-injury">Stolarz left the game during the second period</a>, was ruled out prior to the third period and <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/report-anthony-stolarz-leaves-arena-stretcher-injury-game-1">reportedly left the arena on a stretcher</a>. <a href="https://x.com/PierreVLeBrun/status/1919749205150617797">The Athletic&#8217;s Pierre LeBrun</a> reported that Stolarz is out of the hospital. It&#8217;s worth noting that earlier in the second period, Stolarz took a shot to the mask from Panthers forward Sam Reinhart.</p>
<p>&#8220;Elbow to the head. Clearly. Clearly. Clear as day,&#8221; Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said post-game.</p>
<p>Here is the play in question, and we don&#8217;t necessarily advise watching it:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sam Bennett is not expected to receive any supplemental discipline for his hit on Anthony Stolarz, according to <a href="https://twitter.com/emilymkaplan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@emilymkaplan</a> <a href="https://t.co/JXDQugOTwr">pic.twitter.com/JXDQugOTwr</a></p>
<p>&mdash; B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) <a href="https://twitter.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1919747657506992402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2025</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Bennett skated into the Leafs&#8217; goalmouth and his elbow clipped Stolarz. The 28-year-old has developed a reputation for illegal hits throughout his career, notably bodyslamming Matthew Knies to the ground in the 2023 playoffs. Knies suffered a season-ending concussion as a result.</p>
<p>&#8220;At the time, I think we handled it the way we should’ve handled it. I am not sure why there is not a call on it. I get it. They miss calls. But it is clearly a penalty,&#8221; Berube said post-game.</p>
<p>Berube did not provide an immediate update on Stolarz&#8217;s status after the game, noting that his goaltender was still undergoing evaluation.</p>
<p><a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/joseph-woll-talks-importance-staying-ready-stolarz-game-1-exit">Joseph Woll replaced Stolarz</a>, as the Maple Leafs defeated the Panthers 5-4 in Game 1. Woll is widely expected to start Game 2, and could be the Maple Leafs&#8217; goaltender for the duration of the playoffs.</p>
<p>&#8220;When you see your teammate go down like that, it’s not good,” Woll said post-game. &#8220;When he goes down on the ice or when he wasn’t feel well coming to the bench. These guys are trying to create a family atmosphere in here, so it’s just like one of your family members.&#8221;</p>
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Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett is not expected to face supplemental discipline after landing a hit to the head on Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz, <a href="https://x.com/reporterchris/status/1919746836274786685">The Athletic's Chris Johnston reports</a>.
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2106" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="324"></div>
<a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-anthony-stolarz-leaves-game-1-florida-panthers-apparent-injury">Stolarz left the game during the second period</a>, was ruled out prior to the third period and <a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/report-anthony-stolarz-leaves-arena-stretcher-injury-game-1">reportedly left the arena on a stretcher</a>. <a href="https://x.com/PierreVLeBrun/status/1919749205150617797">The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun</a> reported that Stolarz is out of the hospital. It's worth noting that earlier in the second period, Stolarz took a shot to the mask from Panthers forward Sam Reinhart.

"Elbow to the head. Clearly. Clearly. Clear as day," Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said post-game.

Here is the play in question, and we don't necessarily advise watching it:

https://twitter.com/BR_OpenIce/status/1919747657506992402

Bennett skated into the Leafs' goalmouth and his elbow clipped Stolarz. The 28-year-old has developed a reputation for illegal hits throughout his career, notably bodyslamming Matthew Knies to the ground in the 2023 playoffs. Knies suffered a season-ending concussion as a result.

"At the time, I think we handled it the way we should’ve handled it. I am not sure why there is not a call on it. I get it. They miss calls. But it is clearly a penalty," Berube said post-game.

Berube did not provide an immediate update on Stolarz's status after the game, noting that his goaltender was still undergoing evaluation.

<a href="https://theleafsnation.com/news/joseph-woll-talks-importance-staying-ready-stolarz-game-1-exit">Joseph Woll replaced Stolarz</a>, as the Maple Leafs defeated the Panthers 5-4 in Game 1. Woll is widely expected to start Game 2, and could be the Maple Leafs' goaltender for the duration of the playoffs.

"When you see your teammate go down like that, it’s not good,” Woll said post-game. "When he goes down on the ice or when he wasn’t feel well coming to the bench. These guys are trying to create a family atmosphere in here, so it’s just like one of your family members."
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