Florida Panthers Lose Center Hand Injury OT Win

Florida Panthers' Sam Bennett left Game 2 with a hand injury, impacting their postseason run despite a 3-2 OT victory over Lightning.

The Florida Panthers had a lot to celebrate after their Game 2 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning on April 23, but there was also a cause for concern. Second-line center Sam Bennett suffered a hand injury towards the end of the second period, forcing him to leave the game.

Bennett was injured when Brandon Montour's slap shot struck his left hand. Despite opening the scoring for the Panthers earlier in the game, Bennett had to be ruled out for the remainder of the match. He also assisted on the second goal before exiting the game.

Throughout the regular season, Bennett was a key contributor for the Panthers, finishing with 41 points, including 20 goals and 21 assists. In his postseason career, he has appeared in 67 games, scoring 19 goals and providing 25 assists.

In Game 2, both goaltenders, Sergei Bobrovsky and Andrei Vasilevskiy, put on impressive performances, with Bobrovsky making a crucial save to keep the Panthers in the game. Ultimately, Carter Verhaeghe scored the game-winning goal in overtime, securing a 2-0 series lead for the Panthers.

As the series shifts to Tampa Bay for the next two games, the Panthers will have to adjust to Bennett's absence and find a way to continue their success against the Lightning.