The NHL’s Department of Player Safety has determined that no supplemental discipline is warranted for T.J. Oshie’s hit on Same Bennett in Game 4 of the Capitals-Panthers series on Monday night. The hit did not receive a penalty in the game.
Oshie’s questionable hit on Bennett occurred just prior to Evgeny Kuznetsov’s go ahead goal at 9:31 of the third period.
T.J. Oshie gets away with a high hit on Sam Bennett and Evgeny Kuznetsov scores to take a 2-1 lead for the Capitals (+145). pic.twitter.com/lQXOJGryV6
— Hockey Gambling Podcast (@HockeySGPN) May 10, 2022
As you can see in the top image, the puck is still in close proximity to Bennett. The only real question was whether Oshie levied an illegal check to the head. An additional angle shows the hit by Oshie actually caused Bennett’s own stick to hit him in the face.
TJ Oshie hit on Sam Bennett. Thoughts?🤔
— Everything Hockey (@EHClothing) May 10, 2022
Bennett appeared disoriented after the legal hit, with some blood on his Jersey, as he eventually made his way to the Panthers bench.
Sam Bennett.@FlaPanthers | #TimeToHunt pic.twitter.com/O0DCY7HWd9
— Bally Sports Florida: Panthers (@BallyPanthers) May 10, 2022
“I didn’t like the hit (to Bennett),” Panthers’ head coach Andrew Brunette said postgame, according to The Hockey News’ Erin Brown. “I thought it was targeted to the head.”
Brunette also added he hopes the Department of Player Safety takes a closer look at the play, according to NHL.com’s Jameson Olive.
Oshie has never been suspended in his 14-year NHL career.
The hit initially drew a tremendous uproar from the Panthers faithful on social media. Of course they were silent when Bennett took liberties on a questionable hit on John Carlson earlier in the series.
— Mike Housman (@HousmanHockey) May 4, 2022
The series is now tied with Game 5 set for Wednesday night in South Florida. Game 6 is set for Friday at Capital One Arena.
By Jon Sorensen
Finally one goes our way.
Bennett is a punk. It’s called Karma.
I mean, when you got Wilson on your team, you have to murder someone just to get the refs to look your way.
Oshie’s gonna wish they suspended him. He better stay on the bench in game 5 or they may have to carry him off on a stretcher. Rest of the team better beware as well.
What a joke the NHL and referees are ! NHL – “his own stick hit him in the head, not Oshie’s shoulder” ….. LMAO !!!!! He clearly loads up and drives upwards with his shoulder. NHL never considers what is GOING to happen next game with a no call, no discipline like this one. Really getting old.
If that was Ovechkin (or even Oshie) getting hit like that it would have been a 5 minute major, tossed from the game and suspended for the next (or 2). Let’s not kid !
You don’t have to believe the words…just watch the video….it is his own stick hitting him in the head, snapping it back. Oshie barely even touched the man.
You mean like bennets hit on carlson! So bennet should have been suspended as well,or just oshie?
^ this
Lol😂 Meow.
Just take a look what Bennet did to Sergachev on April 24th. That’s nothing compared to the carnage that will take place on Oshie.
Lol. Meow.
3-2 … KARMA. You want to talk about punks? Ovechkin and Oshie are 2 of the biggest punks in the game. hoping Joe Thornton is active for game 5. Those 2 better have their heads on a swivel.
Lol. Kitty Cats acting tough. 😂
😁 everybody’s a tough guy behind their keyboard.
Oshie not getting additional discipline is KARMA
indeed, Jon, Where was DoPS for this late hit at the end of the game here? I have no idea why that hit wasn’t reviewed at all, yet Oshie’s hit gets a review? May as well abolish DoPS because it’s a biased, inequitable, and seemingly arbirtrary process.