Anthony Stolarz hospitalized after hit by Sam Bennett in Maple Leafs-Panthers Game 1 clash

Stolarz leaves Game 1 after on-ice collision with Panthers’ Sam Bennett

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz was taken to hospital after a second-period hit to the head by Florida Panthers forward Sam Bennett during Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Monday night. The incident, which left the 6-foot-6, 243-pound Stolarz visibly shaken and later vomiting on the bench, prompted concern from medical experts and reignited debate over NHL concussion protocol.

Bennett, who has a reputation for aggressive playoff play, called the hit “just a bump.”

“It was just a bump,” Bennett said. “When it happened, I didn’t even realize I had made contact.”

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Stolarz remained in the game briefly after the collision, but was later removed and transported to hospital on a stretcher. The Maple Leafs went on to win the game 5-4, taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Neurosurgeons weigh in: hit may have caused concussion

Dr. Charles Tator, a Toronto-based neurosurgeon, reviewed footage of the collision and suggested that the force of the impact was likely severe.
“The amount of force delivered to the brain was, I would say, gigantic, because Stolarz’s head really did move dramatically to the right,” Tator said.

Tator added that vomiting, as seen in Stolarz’s case, is a potential indicator of a concussion or more serious brain trauma.
“Vomiting after a hit of that magnitude is at least a concussion. It could be more than a concussion. It could be a bruise to the brain, or it could be a blood clot,” he said.

Earlier hit to head may indicate two possible concussions

Earlier in the game, Stolarz took a puck to the mask that knocked it off. Chris Nowinski, CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, reviewed video of the incident and pointed to a movement known as SHAAKE — Spontaneous Headshake After a Kinematic Event — as a possible sign of concussion symptoms.

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“Stolarz, in the aftermath of taking that puck to the mask, rapidly shook his head from side to side,” Nowinski said.

“We surveyed athletes last year and found that when they exhibited that movement after a blow to the head, most of the time it was because they felt a concussion symptom,” Nowinski explained.
“There is potential (Stolarz) suffered two concussions in the same game,” he added.

Nowinski noted that vomiting on the bench is an unusual symptom and could suggest more severe injury.
“Vomiting on the ice is not something you almost ever see,” he said.

Stolarz back with team but Game 2 status unclear

Despite Monday’s events, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube confirmed Tuesday that Stolarz had returned to be with the team and was “doing well.” However, his status for Game 2 remains uncertain.

No league discipline has been announced for Bennett. Tator believes that a suspension would have been appropriate under current NHL rules.
“I would put (Bennett) out at least two games, because he took no effort to avoid the collision. I think that’s an assault on the goalie,” he said.

As of Tuesday evening, NHL Player Safety had not announced any hearing or suspension for Bennett’s hit on Stolarz.

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NHL’s concussion policy under scrutiny again

The incident has brought renewed focus on the NHL’s approach to player safety and concussion protocols. Nowinski criticized the league’s continued refusal to formally acknowledge a link between repeated head trauma and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).

“I worry that because we’ve been so critical of the NHL on their CTE denial, that they are not adding SHAAKE to their concussion sign list out of spite rather than doing what’s best for the players,” Nowinski said.

The league's concussion spotters did not remove Stolarz from the game immediately following the hit, and to Nowinski’s knowledge, SHAAKE is not yet on the league’s watch list for identifying concussion symptoms.