Shocking Referee Details Emerge From Leafs-Panthers Game 1, Fans Demand Answers

Although the NHL decided not to do anything about Sam Bennett after his elbow to the head of Anthony Stolarz, the Maple Leafs might start making plans to enact some justice of their own; as long as it doesn't go over the line.

The outrage not only stems from Bennett initiating the elbow in the first place, but the fact that the referees didn't feel the need to penalize him even though it was clear as day.

Perhaps there's a reason that happened, and it's a pretty blatant display of incompetence.

According to analyst Kevin Papetti, the same referees that ended up refereeing the same game that had Bennett take out former Leafs forward Matthew Knies in 2023.

While you might be able to chalk it up to a coincidence, there's something to be said about why the league has now seen two separate incidents involving the same player injuring a player from the same team.

First Bennett went after Knies, and now he goes after Stolarz. When is the line drawn?

Does Stolarz's hospitalization not warrant punishment, especially with his track record?

Fans are furious towards not only both officials, but the Player Safety Department who are pleading ignorance to the situation.

While there's nothing that can say there is collusion between the NHL, its officials and the Panthers, but perhaps the league should take a look at who is set to referee the series and make some adjustments.

One interesting caveat in this whole situation is there may be some bitterness from referee Chris Rooney. Hailing from Boston, there could be a bit of favoritism given to Florida due to the heated rivalry between the Maple Leafs and Bruins.

But whatever it is has to be curbed, because someone is going to get seriously injured if Bennett or any other Panthers player is allowed to run roughshod over the Leafs.

We just want a bit of accountability from the NHL because at this rate they are just pretending they have some, and it's going to come back to bite them.