TORONTO, CANADA- MAY4: Sam Bennett #9 of the Florida Panthers takes a cross checking penalty against Michael Bunting #58 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during Game Two of the Second Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 4, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Panthers defeated the Maple Leafs 3-2.

Bennett avoids suspension for cross-checking Bunting in neck

Josh Wegman
Claus Andersen / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett was fined $5,000 for cross-checking Toronto Maple Leafs winger Michael Bunting in the neck in Game 2 on Thursday, the league announced.

Here's the play:

Here's another look:

Bunting was shaken up but was able to stay in the game.

Bennett came under scrutiny for another incident in Game 2 when he slammed Leafs rookie Matthew Knies to the ice.

Knies was forced to leave the game with a concussion and is likely to miss the rest of the series.

Bennett has been suspended twice in his nine-year NHL career. He got three games in 2022 for an illegal check to the head and received a one-game ban in 2021 for boarding.

Bennett, who centers Florida's second line, has recorded four goals and three assists in eight playoff games so far. His Panthers lead Toronto 2-0.

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