Dallas – Captain of the Dallas Stars jamie bann Was suspended two games by the NHL after an ugly hit on the Vegas captain mark stone in a Game 3 loss that left Dallas on the brink of being eliminated from the Western Conference Finals.
If they win, Ben will miss Game 4 and Game 5 for the Stars. If Dallas is cleared, the suspension will extend to next season’s opener.
Ben received a game misconduct for his cross-check less than two minutes into Game 3 after the captains collided near the blue line. After Stone fell to the ice, Benn lunged forward with both hands on his stick and made contact near Stone’s neck as he slid down the center line.
In a video announcing the suspension, the league noted that Benn was in control of the play and made the decision to cross-check Stone, who was in a vulnerable position.
The league said, “This is simply an unnecessarily dangerous decision by Ben, and it was delivered with sufficient intent and force to warrant supplementary discipline.”
Benn was fined four times but never suspended before in his 14 NHL seasons. Before his hearing, Ben said he wished he had not used his stick “as a landing point” during the play.
“Just the heat of the moment. … I needed to be more responsible with my body and my stick,” Ben said. “My first innings of a game on home ice when you’re 1-0 up and down a lot, You want to try to push your team. Emotions are high and you know, it was just an unfortunate play.
Vegas scored on the ensuing power play, doubling their lead before going on a 4–0 victory to take a 3–0 series lead. With a win, the Knights would advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second time in six seasons for the franchise.
“I didn’t like what happened, but it was handled well and we stayed focused as a team,” Stone said.
The Stars had expected a strong Game 3, but instead chased inconsistent goaltenders to see the Golden Knights score three times in the first 7 1/2 minutes. Jake Oettinger amid a series of ugly penalties and even pelting the fans with debris.
Stone said he was “a little surprised” by the kind of play it was like when it was happening.
“It was at the start of the game, my first innings of the game,” he said. “I didn’t expect to be patted like this.”
Asked what he could have done differently in that moment, Benn said he clearly didn’t want to take the huge five-minute penalty.
“But the game is fast, emotions are high, and obviously would prefer not to fall on that and use my stick as a landing point I guess,” Ben said.
Dallas coach Pete DeBoer had said that the Stars were prepared for the possibility that Bain would be unavailable for a game they would need to win to extend their season.
“The bottom line is that actions have consequences and he is paying the consequences for it,” DeBoer said. “From our group’s point of view, I think everyone wants to see Jamie Benn play again. I think we all want to make sure that his season doesn’t end like this.
DeBoer said Oettinger would be back in net for Game 4, even after three consecutive losses. He’s lost four of five, but the win was last week in Game 7 in Seattle.
Stars can be without forwards as well as Ben Evgeny Dadonov, He left the first period with a lower body injury, and DeBoer said he was doubtful for Game 4.
max domi, who received a 10-minute misconduct at the end of the second period, was fined $5,000 by the NHL for hitting Stone in the closing minutes of the game; No penalty was stated.
The earlier glitch came to light when Domi cross-checked Nicolas HagueWith 21 seconds remaining in the second the punches began to flow.
The fans reacted to the penalty being imposed on Domi by throwing water bottles, food and other items onto the ice. With extended time needed to clean the playing surface, the officials sent both teams to their locker rooms early and ended those final seconds after intermission before the third period could be played.
Dallas Stars president Brad Alberts issued an apology to the Golden Knights and the NHL “for the actions of some of our spectators at last night’s game”. His actions were unacceptable and put the safety of players and fans at risk.
“We take pride in providing the best experience possible for everyone who enters our territory,” he said. “The actions of these individuals certainly do not reflect our great city, organization and loyal fan base.”
Jamie Benn suspended for 2 games after captain-on-captain hit originally appeared NBCSports.com
