Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennett both saw their Stanley Cup Final debuts end early Saturday after throwing punches in a scrum late in Game 1.
The Florida Panthers linemates were each assessed a 10-minute misconduct after they took free shots on Vegas Golden Knights blue-liner Nicolas Hague in a skirmish shortly after the home side took a 4-2 lead in the third period.
Things are getting heated between Vegas and Florida late in the third. 👀 pic.twitter.com/wTqDzFX2DU
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 4, 2023
Tkachuk was also assessed a double-minor for roughing, while Bennett got two minutes for the same infraction. Vegas forward Chandler Stephenson was also given a misconduct.
Tkachuk entered the Stanley Cup Final on the shortlist of Conn Smythe favorites after posting 21 points across 16 games in the opening three rounds. He's been a physical presence throughout his breakout spring with 52 hits entering Saturday's contest.
Bennett has stirred the pot numerous times in the postseason. He avoided discipline for cross-checking the Toronto Maple Leafs forward Michael Bunting in Round 2 and knocked Carolina Hurricanes blue-liner Jaccob Slavin out of Game 4 with a thunderous hit.
The Golden Knights won the series opener 5-2.
