Bennett has not played since suffering an injury during Game 2 against Tampa Bay
The Florida Panthers are about to get a boost to their forward ranks.
Panthers center Sam Bennett is set to rejoin Florida’s lineup for the first time in over two weeks after dealing with an upper-body injury, according to the team's official game roster on the NHL Media website.
Bennett was injured early in the second period of Game 2 of the opening round against Tampa Bay.
During a shift in the Lightning end of the ice, Bennett was hit in the area of his hand and wrist by a Brandon Montour slapshot.
Bennett immediately left the game and has not played since.
He began skating last week at the Panthers new training facility in Fort Lauderdale, and after getting in a couple practices with his teammates, it appears he’s ready to jump back into Florida’s attempt at a title run.
Bennett was a full participant in Florida’s morning skate on Friday, but was flanked by Jonah Gadjovich and Ryan Lomberg, the wingers who are expected to be healthy scratches.
Afterwards, Panthers Head Coach Paul Maurice said that Bennett would be a game-time decision.
Well, that decision was apparently all systems go.
Expect Bennett to slide back into his spot on the second line between Carter Verhaeghe and Matthew Tkachuk, and for Anton Lundell and Kevin Stenlund to slide down to the third and fourth lines, respectively.
During warmup line rushes, Lundell centered a line with Eetu Luostarinen and Evan Rodrigues, while Stenlund was flanked by Steven Lorentz and Kyle Okposo.
Florida and Boston are tied at one game apiece in their best-of-7 second round series.
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