The NHL Department of Player Safety has suspended Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn two games for cross-checking Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone in Game 3 of the 2023 Western Conference Final.
The Golden Knights won the game 4-0 to take a commanding 3-0 series lead and push the Stars to the brink of elimination. If Dallas does lose the series in the minimum four games, Benn’s suspension would carry over to the start of the 2023-24 season.
Benn was assessed a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for cross-checking Stone, who was already down on the ice and in a vulnerable position, just 1:53 into the first period of Tuesday’s playoff game at American Airlines Center in Dallas.
The Stars already trailed 1-0 in Game 3 at the time of the infraction. Golden Knights forward Ivan Barbashev scored on the ensuing power play to give his team a 2-0 lead, and Stone subsequently credited the long man-advantage for giving his team the momentum it needed to win the game.
“We got the five-man power play, the refs handled it the way it should’ve been handled,” Stone said. “We got a big goal from it and got a ton of momentum for our team. Yeah, I didn’t love what transpired, but it got handled the right way. We stuck together as a team. Now the focus is Game 4.”
Benn chose not to address the media on Tuesday night after the Stars’ Game 3 loss, in which he played just 42 seconds before putting his team shorthanded for a full five minutes (and leaving them down a forward for the rest of the game).
However, the 33-year-old winger did speak to reporters on Wednesday morning.
“Obviously I didn’t want to take a five-minute penalty but the game happens fast, emotions are high,” Benn said. “[I] would’ve liked to not fall on him and, I guess, use my stick as a landing point.”
Benn scored 33 goals and 78 points while appearing in all 82 games with the Stars during the 2022-23 regular season. He’s added three goals and 11 points in 16 playoff contests.
Now, if Benn is to play again for the Stars in these playoffs, they’ll need to extend the series to at least a sixth game in Dallas. In the meantime, Game 4 at American Airlines Center is slated for Thursday at 7 p.m. CT.
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