Pat Maroon clears the air on not retaliating against Sam Bennett's hit on Brad Marchand

Boston Bruins winger Pat Maroon has responded to critics who suggested he didn't stand up for teammate Brad Marchand following Sam Bennett's hit in Game 3 of their second-round series.

Bennett's heavy hit on Marchand forced the Bruin out of the game due to a suspected concussion. Maroon attempted to engage Bennett in Game 4. He also signaled his readiness to confront the Panthers lineup, but no altercation ensued.

“I’m damned if I do. I’m damned if I don’t,” Maroon was quoted as saying by the NY Times. “I’m sure everyone’s wondering why I haven’t done anything. I’ll sit here and say it’s not like I haven’t tried or that I don’t want to do anything.

"I love my captain and I love the guys."

Maroon, however, stressed that he did not want to cost his team by being sent to the penalty box for something unnecessary.

“I don’t want to put my team in jeopardy,” Maroon added. “I don’t want to take a suspension. I don’t want to put my team on the penalty kill. I’m doing everything I can. So we can sit here and say I’m not. Maybe I’m not. But I talked to my captain. I talked to the guys in the locker room. They know. They know I care. And that’s the most important thing.”

The Bruins trail the Panthers 3-1 and the upcoming games are expected to be full of physical play and provocations.

Sam Bennett defends his hit on Brad Marchand

Sam Bennett has quickly become a villain in Boston, assuming the role of the primary antagonist. After his controversial hit on Marchand, questions regarding the intent behind Bennett's actions emerged, particularly after a new angle was shown on TNT.

Bennett defended his play as a natural reaction to an incoming hit.

"On that play, obviously I'm not trying to punch him in the head like everyone's saying," Bennett said (via TNT), "Other people can have different opinions. I'm just bracing myself for him coming to hit me."

Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery expressed dissatisfaction with the hit. However, it did not meet the criteria for being classified as "dirty" according to league standards. Bennett didn't get any disciplinary action and contributed to the Panthers' 3-1 series lead.

For now, the Bruins are focused on extending the series in Game 5 in Sunrise, Florida.