Panthers’ Sam Bennett to return ahead of schedule vs. Rangers
Bennett will play Monday night as Florida takes on the New York Rangers after initially being expected to miss the rest of the regular season due to an upper-body injury suffered on April 5.
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Sam Bennett‘s return to the lineup is coming sooner than expected for the Florida Panthers.
Bennett will play Monday night as Florida takes on the New York Rangers after initially being expected to miss the rest of the regular season due to an upper-body injury suffered on April 5.
“He is 100 per cent, and he got himself to that point,” Panthers head coach Paul Maurice told reporters at morning skate. “We had a little time, and that was just a buffer for me. There was a chance he would not get to 100 per cent for two or three more days, but he is ready, he is skating and he wants to play. He feels that playing is far better for him than not, so he plays. If there is any lingering concern, you don’t play.”
The 28-year-old centre has tallied a career-high 25 goals and 25 assists in 74 games this season with the Panthers.
Florida enters Monday’ night’s action holding the third spot in the Atlantic Division. One more loss would ensure that it does not have home-ice advantage in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Panthers are two points behind the Tampa Bay Lighting, who they play in their regular-season finale on Tuesday.
