Sam Bennett scores hat trick as Panthers rout Kraken 8-3

Fantasy hockey: Bennett's three goals came in just 12:25 of ice time with four shots, but his underlying play keeps him a hold rather than a streaming target.

By Fantasy Roundup Staff · October 18, 2026 · Updated October 18, 2026

Sam Bennett scored three goals on four shots in 12:25 of ice time Saturday, October 17, as the Panthers beat the Kraken 8-3. He added two hits and a block while going plus-3, finishing the night with no assists.

The hat trick looks explosive, but Bennett took fewer shots and played fewer minutes than usual. His underlying play grades 91 out of 100 among forwards (shots, scoring chances and ice time), a read on how sustainable his scoring is, and his recent averages put him at 0.35 goals and 2.9 shots per game.

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Sam Bennett

Bennett's three goals came without the shot volume or ice time that would make the performance more repeatable. He averages 18:29 a night and 2.9 shots per game, so Saturday's 12:25 and four shots represent a game where the puck simply went in at an unsustainable rate. His recent averages show 0.71 points per game, with 0.35 goals and 0.36 assists, numbers that fit a middle-six center who contributes on the first power-play unit (2:59 per game, fifth among all Panthers skaters).

The underlying play grades 91 out of 100 among forwards, which means Bennett generates shots, scoring chances and ice time at a strong rate. That process score suggests the production should hold up over time, even if three-goal nights remain rare. He adds 1.6 hits and 0.4 blocks per game, plus 0.18 power-play points per game. The Panthers have three games left this week (Sat, Wed, Thu), giving Bennett more chances to add category coverage even if the goal scoring normalizes.

What to do

• Keep Bennett rostered as a hold, not a streaming add, given his recent averages of 0.71 points per game and strong underlying grades.

• Expect Bennett's production to settle back toward 0.35 goals per game rather than repeat Saturday's three-goal output.

• Start Bennett in his three remaining games this week (Sat, Wed, Thu) for his combination of points, hits and power-play time.

Schedule this week