Florida Panthers' Sam Bennett Faces Extended Absence Due to Lower-Body Injury

Injury sustained during game against Boston could sideline Bennett for weeks; severity of injury still unclear.

Sam Bennett, Florida Panthers' fourth-leading scorer in last season's playoffs, faces an extended absence due to a lower-body injury sustained during a game against the Boston Bruins.
The injury occurred when Bruins defenseman Hampus Lindholm fell on Bennett, resulting in Bennett being unable to put any weight on his left leg and requiring assistance off the ice.
Panthers coach Paul Maurice indicated that Bennett's injury isn't day-to-day and it could take a few days to understand the extent of his injury and how long his recovery might take.
This injury represents a significant blow for the Panthers, who have already been dealing with the absence of defensemen Aaron Ekblad and Brandon Montour, both still weeks away from making their 2023-2024 debuts following shoulder surgeries.
In light of Bennett's injury, Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov is set to play in his 672nd regular-season game, breaking a team record for the most games played in Florida Panther's history.