Panthers Issue Critical Sam Bennett Injury Update: ‘We’re Going To…’

As the playoff battle in the Atlantic Division intensifies, the Florida Panthers are managing injuries heading into the final week of the regular season. On Tuesday, they ended a five-game winless stretch with a 3-1 home victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs, but also provided an update on forward Sam Bennett. After missing Sunday’s game in Detroit and sitting out again Tuesday, Bennett is not expected to return before the end of the regular season. Head coach Paul Maurice said the team will prioritize his recovery from an upper-body injury to ensure he’s ready for the playoffs.

“I don’t think he’s going to be back in,” Maurice said before Tuesday’s game. “We’ll use the rest of the season to get him healthy.”

Bennett, 28, participated in the morning skate but has been dealing with what Maurice described as a persistent and manageable issue. “It developed during the road trip.

He can play, but not at his best,” Maurice explained. “We’re aiming to get him as close to 100 percent as possible, and that work needs to happen off the ice.” The team determined it wasn’t worth the risk of aggravating the injury, especially with the postseason set to begin on April 19. Maurice made it clear, however, that there’s “none, zero” concern about Bennett’s availability for Game 1 of the playoffs.

If he doesn’t play again before then, Bennett will wrap up the regular season with 50 points (25 goals, 25 assists) in 74 games. With Tuesday’s win, Florida moved to 45-29-4 (94 points), sitting third in the Atlantic Division—two points behind Tampa Bay and four back of Toronto—with four games left to play.