Boston openly acknowledged it didn't have a great read on Bennett's hit on Marchand in real-time at TD Garden. But alternate footage that surfaced well after the incident shows the Florida agitator leading with a fist, which ultimately saddled the Bruins captain with an upper-body injury.
The NHL also didn't see the reverse angle until Sunday, but it didn't change how Player Safety saw it - not as a sucker punch, but as a hockey play with two players engaged.
Hockey play' was the phrase Bennett used to defend his hit on Marchand. Furthermore, the 27-year-old was adamant he wasn't trying to injure the two-time All-Star when they crossed paths early in Game 3.
Marchand was sidelined for Game 4 but traveled to Florida with Boston on Monday. His status for the Bruins' must-win game Tuesday remains unclear.
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