Bennett left the Panthers' previous game vs. Minnesota after just 11 shifts and 9:14 TOI due to an upper-body injury but will play Monday after being a game-time decision. The 26-year-old has 11 goals, 19 assists, 144 SOG, 48 PIMs and a -3 plus/minus through 48 games this season.
Bennett missed Friday's game in Vancouver but will be a game-time decision for Sunday's game in Vancouver. Monitor his status as the Panthers hit the ice for warmups at 8:30 PM ET.
Bennett was suspended for three games for an illegal hit to the head on Cedric Paquette on January 1st but is set to play Tuesday vs. the Canucks. Bennett, who has 11 goals and six assists (17 points) in 26 games, will centre the second line with Jonathan Huberdeau and Anthony Duclair on his wings.
Bennett was a surprise scratch on Thursday but is supposed to play Saturday vs. Montreal. Bennett had an assist vs. the Rangers in the Panthers' first game back and has 15 points (9G / 6A) in 25 games this season.
Bennett is one of five Panthers that entered COVID-19 protocol this week, putting Thursday's game vs. the Kings in jeopardy.
Bennett was forced to miss Saturday's preseason game due to COVID-19 protocol but was back on the ice for Monday's practice session. This is a good sign for his availability for the Panthers' season opener vs. the Penguins on Thursday.
Bennett's career with the Flames did not go as planned but he paid immediate dividends once arriving in Florida. The 25-year-old had 15 points (6G / 9A) in 10 regular seasons games and five points (1G / 4A) in five playoff games. Bennett seems to have solidified the Panthers' 2C role behind Aleksander Barkov and signed for a very affordable $4.4M AAV. Pairing up with Jonathan Huberdeau on the second line should help Bennett have his best season to date in 2021-22.
Bennett was issued a two-minute minor penalty on the play but was slapped with a one-game suspension on Monday. This is a huge loss for the Panthers, who will likely need to lean on Alexander Wennberg more heavily in Game 2. Including Game 1, Bennett has scored six goals with 11 assists (17 points) in 11 games with Florida.
