SIMMONS: Panthers' Sam Bennett has 'elbows up' in direction of Leafs' Stolarz in Game 1

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When it was over, the kind of win that used to end with a playoff-cringing loss for the Maple Leafs, neither Sam Bennett nor his dangerous elbows were anywhere to be found.

He was in the playoff hockey version of witness protection late Monday night, way in the back of the Florida Panthers dressing room, clearly in hiding from anyone who might have a microphone, a question or both.

You want to throw around Macho Man Savage elbows rather freely, that’s any hockey player’s prerogative to do so. But if you do that, on this stage, with a whole country watching, a country consumed with elbows up, at least have the temerity to hang around at the end and explain yourself to a jury of your peers.

There was no explaining for Bennett after the 5-4 win for the Maple Leafs in Game 1. There was nothing said at all post-game. Instead, Bennett left it up to teammates, who claimed not to see the play, or his normally well-spoken coach Paul Maurice, who went on the offence with his post-game rant, then pointed towards Wednesday’s Game 2 at Scotiabank Arena.

Maybe Bennett will play against the Leafs. Maybe he’ll have to sit out a game. In the National Hockey League, there is never any clear explanation about what gets a player suspended and what doesn’t. We gave up trying to figure out how that all works years ago.

If the Leafs play this smart, they’ll say they don’t know whether goaltender Anthony Stolarz will be able to start Game 2, which could lead to a suspension for Bennett.

It won’t be their call in the end. But Leafs coach Craig Berube was crystal clear about what he saw Monday night from Bennett.

“Elbow to the head,” said Berube, without any kind of emotion. “Clear as day.

“I’m not sure why there was not a call on it. It’s clearly a penalty.”

Maurice did not agree.

“The referee was standing right there,” said the Florida coach.

And minutes after that, Berube followed his words up, with maybe his most important utterance of the night: “Listen, we got the win,” he said.

Yes, they got the win in Game 1 of this Atlantic Division playoff series between the Maple Leafs and the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. A 5-4 win. A second-round opening game win. That happens about every quarter of a century or so.

They got the win and may have lost their starting goaltender in the process.

This victory was a hold-your-breath — how did it get this close? — kind of win in the end for the Leafs. A win that looked almost one-sided for half a game, which was about the time Stolarz was kayoed by Bennett’s elbow. The Leafs were leading 4-1 and playing the part of both the faster and the more physical team.

And then came the collision between Bennett and his former teammate Stolarz. To call it accidental would be an insult to accidents everywhere. It was Bennett deliberate. Which is different than Matthew Tkachuk deliberate or Brad Marchand deliberate. This is what they do. It’s not so much intent to injure as it is intent to alter the results of a playoff series.

This has turned into Bennett’s specialty — sometimes legally, sometimes crossing the line, sometimes committing suspendable offences — in between starring at centre for the Panthers. You may love him on your Team Canada but not so much as an opponent of your favourite team come playoff time.

It was 4-1 when Stolarz was bent over at the Maple Leafs bench, leaving what was left of his pre-game meal at the skates of his teammates. That ended his night. Joseph Woll played the final 29 minutes and 46 seconds, allowing three goals on the 20 shots he faced.

The first half of the game, Stolarz faced just nine shots. The Leafs gave up 20, including a goal with less than two minutes to play, in the second half of the game.

“It wasn’t a great start for us,” said Panthers’ captain Sasha Barkov, who was left to answer for Bennett, who was being protected by his team for what might come later on Tuesday. “We know there are no surprises here. They came out better than us.”

Early on, neither the Panthers nor their historically terrific goaltender, Sergei Bobrovsky, had any real answers, especially for dealing with William Nylander. He scored two goals that put the Leafs in an early first-period lead, then set up another one with a lovely saucer pass to Morgan Rielly .

There was a lot to like about the Leafs in Game 1. The explosiveness of Nylander. The strong play of the Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner-Matthews Knies line. The six-man strength of their defensive corps and the playoff step up that Morgan Rielly has taken. Another strong night for the Scott Laughton line. The calm demeanour of coach Berube, who called a timeout after two goals were scored on Woll on three shots early in the third, and basically stood silently behind the bench, allowing his players to find their way.

And another sharp start from the first-year Leaf, Stolarz. Who may or may not be playing Wednesday night in Game 2. Just like Sam Bennett.

ssimmons@postmedia.com
twitter.com/simmonssteve

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