Stars Captain Jamie Benn Suspended Two Games, Misses Game 4

Barely a few minutes into a crucial Game 3 at home to the Vegas Golden Knights – already down 2-0 in the series and 1-0 in the match – the Dallas Stars leader Jamie Benn decided to send a message to Vegas captain Mark Stone.

Unfortunately, it was the wrong message and the NHL had one for him in response.

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Jamie Benn Suspended for 2 Games

Already down 1-0 in the game off a brilliant finish from Jonathan Marchessault, the Stars’ captain had one of those moments in a hockey game that provide ammunition to the naysayers about how needlessly violent the sport is.

Benn and Stone tussled near the board along the blue line, with Stone falling down. Not content to leave it at that, Benn then cross-checked his opposite number while the man was down on the ice. The stick landed dangerously close to Mark Stone’s neck.

That was more than enough for the referees, who handed Benn a game misconduct. Experts and fans alike knew that conversations would take place in league offices as a result of Benn’s brazen act.

The NHL decided on Wednesday to suspend the Dallas Star for two games. As such, he’ll miss Game 4 and, should his side win, Game 5 as well. If Dallas is eliminated on Thursday, the captain will forcibly miss one game next season.

NHL and Jamie Benn React

In their announcement, the National Hockey League made their opinion very clear.

“This is simple an unnecessarily dangerous decision by Benn, and it is delivered with sufficient intent and force to merit supplement discipline.”

As for the player at the center of all the attention, he responded and explained his actions as best he could.

“I need to be more responsible with my body and my stick. My first shift of a game on home ice when you’re pretty jacked up and down 1-0, so you want to try to get your team going. Emotions are high and, you know, it was just an unfortunate play.”

The Golden Knights went on to win the contest 4-0, thus claiming a 3-0 series lead. They can do away with the Stars on Thursday with one more win, earning themselves a birth in the Stanley Cup final to play the Florida Panthers.