Sam Bennett “Feeling Better,” Status Unconfirmed for Panthers Next Game

Sam Bennett is feeling better after missing Tuesday night’s game against the New Jersey Devils. His status is still up in the air for Thursday night’s game.

FORT LAUDERDALE — Sam Bennett is feeling better after missing the Florida Panthers 4-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday with an upper-body injury.

The team did not practice today — opting instead of off-ice workouts before returning to the ice on Thursday for a morning skate — but he came in feeling good after something tightened up on him that could not quite loosen up before game time.

Panthers coach Paul Maurice did not have an official update on his status for Thursday night’s game — that will be determined during the morning skate.

“Nothing today,” Maurice said. “It feels better, but we’ll get him on the ice tomorrow and we’ll get a good handle on it.”

Maurice said after Tuesday’s game that Bennett’s injury is not anything that could keep him out long-term.

It could’ve very well been something a player might have been able to play through at some point, but the Panthers have been ahead of the curve as far as how to handle injuries.

“The care and the resources that NHL teams have now, it’s just world class,” Maurice said. “I mean, not just the people in our room. We have a whole sports science department, athletic therapists and then just an incredible network of doctors. Part of it is our location. Here in Florida, we have access to the very best. But I think the biggest advocate now is actually the player.

“There was a culture, and 25 to 30 years ago, there wasn’t anything you didn’t play with. That’s not true anymore, and part of it is that the culture has change and the understanding how important it is.

“At the end of the day, you will suffer fewer man games lost by handling injuries correctly and early. The player has a far stronger voice that now, and rightfully so.”