Sam Bennett shrugs off Panthers' back-to-back matinees

Sam Bennett says it's nice to just wake up and go play hockey as the Panthers head to Washington.

The Florida forward was talking about the upcoming back-to-back matinee games, and he kept it plain. No big speech, no complaints about the schedule. Just a player who wants to get on the ice.

The Panthers are 9-5-2 with 20 points, and they carry a 7-3-0 record in their last 10 into Saturday's game against the Capitals. They beat Chicago 5-3 on Wednesday night, and that win matters more when you look at who is not in the lineup.

Aleksander Barkov has played 2 games this season and is listed on injured reserve with a knee injury, expected out until at least Nov. 27. Brad Marchand has also played just 2 games and is listed on IR with a knee, with an expected return of at least Nov. 21.

That puts extra weight on everyone else, and Bennett is part of that group.

The Panthers shared his comments on social media.

Bennett's line on the back-to-back matinees, as posted by the team:

Bennett has 4 goals and 3 assists for 7 points in 16 games, with a +2 rating. Those are fine numbers for a depth piece, but they are modest for a center the Panthers need to lean on right now.

Where Bennett fits in the Panthers' scoring race

The scoring order shows how far Bennett sits from the top. Matthew Tkachuk leading the Panthers is now at 22 points, with Brady Tkachuk at 17, Sam Reinhart at 16 and Carter Verhaeghe at 15.

Bennett's 7 points are well back of that group. He also has no power-play goals and no power-play assists this season, while Reinhart has 6 power-play goals and Brady Tkachuk has 3.

That is the gap worth watching. The top of the lineup is producing, and Brady Tkachuk's eight goals have helped cover for the missing centers. But Florida sits 5th in the Atlantic, and the room for a quiet stretch from a veteran center is shrinking.

Bennett's career line shows what he can be: 401 points in 783 games, including 192 goals. A player with that résumé should be pushing past 7 points by mid-November, especially with Barkov out.

Washington is 8-6-0 and has lost two straight, so Saturday is no gimme. Bennett gets his first chance to answer there, and Florida gets its next look at whether the middle of the lineup can carry more weight until Marchand and Barkov return.

Quick hits

LOS ANGELES KINGSKings beat writer Zach Dooley reports that Peter Laviolette says Alex Turcotte has progressed back to day-to-day, with Kevin Fiala not far behind. Good news for a Kings lineup that could use both.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFSJonas Siegel reports that John Tavares returns to the lineup against the Canadiens on Saturday, but as a winger. That is a notable change for a player fans know as a center.

GOALIE MOVENHL Rosters reports that the Rangers have activated Joonas Korpisalo from IR and assigned James Reimer to Hartford. The crease picture in New York just got clearer.

MINNESOTA WILDMichael Russo reports that Marcus Foligno and Nick Foligno won't play for the Wild tonight against the Sharks. Two lineup holes to fill on short notice.

DALLAS STARSGlen Gulutzan says Miro Heiskanen is doubtful to play against San Jose on Saturday. The Stars would feel that absence on the blue line.