NOTEBOOK: Bennett coming up big for Panthers since return from injury

SUNRISE, Fla. -- The only drawback of Sam Bennett is that he's only just one man.
"Those are the guys that kind of become the core of what you look like, your style of play," Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said. "We would very much like to get our entire team to play like Sam Bennett. He's got skill, he can shoot the puck, he can make plays, but he's a hard man."

After suffering an undisclosed injury on March 20, Bennett spent the rest of the regular season rehabbing as best he could while watching his teammates claw their way into the postseason.
But since he's returned to the ice, it honestly looks like he never actually left.
Getting back into the lineup for the Panthers in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference First Round on April 19, Bennett scored the opening goal in what would go on to be a 6-3 win against the Bruins at TD Garden.
Building from there, the 26-year-old center went on to crack the scoresheet in Games 3 and 4 as well.
"I feel good," said Bennett, who ranks third on the Panthers in playoff scoring with three points (two goals, one assist). "The first couple shifts it was a little tough getting back into it, but after that I feel like I didn't miss any time. I'm definitely feeling good and just trying to help this team as much as a I can wherever I can contribute. Offensively or physically, it's whatever I can do to help our team."

While the points have certainly been there, that physical edge has been at the heart of his game.
Leading all Panthers forwards with 150 hits during the regular season, Bennett hasn't shied away from contact since his return. Despite missing Game 1, he currently leads the team's forwards with 16 hits in the playoffs, which averages out to just over five hits per contest.
As for any on-ice scrums, you'll usually find Bennett right in the middle of the action.
"It's not really a surprise with what he's been able to do coming in," Panthers defenseman Josh Mahura said. "He's one of those guys where his motor just doesn't really stop no matter the circumstances. For him to come in and be able to do what he's done has obviously been a big boost for us. We missed him for some time there. To get him back has been really important."
As it was during the regular season, Bennett has also excelled alongside Matthew Tkachuk.
An extremely effective duo both in terms of their production and physicality, the Panthers have controlled 64.38% of shot attempts and 68.75% of scoring chances at 5-on-5 when Bennett and Tkachuk, who previously teamed up in Calgary, have been on the ice together in the series against the Bruins.
Owning the nets, they've also helped Florida lead 12-4 in high-danger shot attempts.
"I think we're doing a good job of getting pucks down low, getting on the forecheck heavy and being physical on their D," Bennett said. "It gives us more time and creates more turnovers when we're being physical. I think that's helped us. The more traffic and pucks we can get to the net, the more opportunities we're going to get. That's what we've been trying to do."
With a do-or-die Game 5 on Wednesday in Boston, Bennett and the Panthers are ready to bring their best.
"We know it's a must-win situation," Bennett said. "It's a chance where we can give it everything we've got. You don't old back. You don't' save anything. You do everything you can to make sure we come out of there with a win."

DUCLAIR AND EKBLAD CLEARED

The Panthers will get some reinforcements for Game 5.
After missing Game 4 due to undisclosed injuries, forward Anthony Duclair and defenseman Aaron Ekblad will both be back in the lineup for the must-win matchup against the Bruins on Wednesday.
"They're good to go," Maurice said confidently.
One half of Florida's top-defensive pairing, Ekblad posted 38 points (14 goals, 24 assists) in 71 games in the regular season. Up front, Duclair, who missed the majority of the regular season after undergoing offseason Achilles surgery, tallied two goals and seven assists in 20 games.
In order for the Panthers to stay alive in the series, both players will be counted on.

NO STARTER NAMED

Maurice was mum when asked about a starting goaltender for Game 5.
After Alex Lyon started the first three games of the series, Bobrovsky got the nod in Game 4.
In the series, Lyon has gone 1-2 with a .902 save percentage, while Bobrovsky sits at 0-1 with a .846 save percentage. Lyon also went 6-1-1 leading into the playoffs to help the Panthers punch their ticket, but Bobrovsky, a two-time winner of the Vezina Trophy, has far more experience with 53 career playoff games to his credit.
Essentially, there isn't really a wrong choice.
But that also just makes the decision that much harder.
"The challenge with it is they both played a similar game," Maurice said. "They both played very, very well, and they both had one [goal] they'd probably like to have back. They both made big saves. This is a positive challenge. I've got complete confidence in either one of them playing."
That being said, we'll have to wait until closer to puck drop to see which goalie gets the nod.
"We have two really good goaltenders, and the decision will be mine," Maurice said.