The NHL Department of Player Safety has handed down a two-game suspension to Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn as a result of a cross-check to the neck of Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone early into last night’s Game 3 of the Western Conference Final.
As mentioned in our coverage earlier this morning of the news of Benn’s hearing, the initial play resulted in a major penalty and game misconduct for Benn.
In a video statement, NHL Player Safety described the play as Stone pursuing the puck through the neutral zone and appearing ready to engage with Benn. However, as Stone closed in, Benn made a decision that would ultimately lead to his suspension.
Benn chipped the puck up the wall, attempting to maneuver around Stone and gain the offensive zone. In the process, though, Stone was sent crashing to the ice. Seizing the opportunity, Benn then proceeded to deliver a forceful cross-check to Stone’s head and neck area.
Player Safety emphasized that Benn was in complete control of the play and deliberately chose to execute the dangerous cross-check on a prone player. Their decision to suspend Benn stems from their assessment of the incident as an unnecessarily dangerous act carried out with sufficient intent and force to warrant supplemental discipline.
It should be noted that Benn has a history of fines, having been fined four times over the course of his 1,030-game NHL career. This is his first offense to elevate to the level of suspension, however.
The suspension will see Jamie Benn sidelined for the Stars’ next two playoff or regular season games, meaning if the Stars are eliminated in tomorrow’s Game 4, Benn’s suspension will carry over to the first game of the 2023-24 season.
It’s a large loss for Dallas, who will need two straight wins to extend their season to the point where Benn can return. His 11 points in 16 games are tied for fourth on the team in scoring, and his 33 goals and 78 points in the regular season were his highest total since 2017-18.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Good job, Ben.
What an idiot.
Also Benn said he wish he didn’t fall on him with his stick like that.
You can clearly see him sizing him up (cowardly, as Stone was laying down) and then leaning into his crosscheck at his neck.
Yeah, headhunting in the playoffs is not a good way to lead the team….
Sad . If this happened during the regular season game, he would’ve gotten the 10 game.
It happened twice in recent memory as he severely injured Larkin with cross check to the neck at the faceoff and the same he did to Pinto of the Sens. If you look at the footage there was a clear intent to cross check the neck area. No suspension. And now this clown spits some cowardly nonesense about emotions
Emotions are high, the stupid emotion that is. I’m surprised we haven’t read the standard BS line yet, “I wasn’t trying to hurt him”
45 seconds into his first shift and already he can’t control himself? I guess young players just starting out, trying to make a name for themselves and establish… oh wait.
He came close with the truly pathetic I fell onto him and some version of I shouldn’t have used my stick to break the fall.
2 isn’t enough. That was incredibly dangerous. That’s more than an overaggressive, late hit or anything of the sort. That was full on assault of a defenseless player. Shame on DOPS.
Hilarious how weak the NHL, and it’s fans, have become. Violence far worse than this used to be common place, and the players settled it on the ice. It was great! Benn could’ve hurt Stone very badly, if he wanted to. Stone isn’t hurt, and Benn’s going home for the season. It’s shocking how much the NHL has changed over the years.
Yes, and in the good ole days they used to stone women like your wife for servicing all the men in the village too. Now we’re all woke hey.
That’s a hilariously weak comment. That violence that Benn pulled was not all that far off from what bertuzzi did to Moore all those years ago, Moore never played again. Bashing a man’s head into the ice wasn’t ok then and it’s not ok now. It was ridiculously close to being a very severe injury and had NOTHING to do with the game of hockey. It was not coincidental, it was vicious with clear and obvious intent to badly injure a fellow sportsman. Benn should be ashamed and so should you rolandveras.
Exactly the hilarious overreaction I’d expect from today’s hockey fan. What Benn did was nothing near what Bertuzzi did. He could’ve. He could’ve beat Stone’s head into the ice. Smashed his stick over Stone’s neck and head. Hurt him bad. Benn is strong enough to seriously injure another player. Luckily, he didn’t. I’m happy Stone’s not hurt. I don’t what Benn was doing. It was incredibly stupid. But it wasn’t nearly as vicious as people like you try to make it out to be.
He weaponized his stick. Fact, not opinion.
He targeted a players head. Fact, not opinion.
The player was defenseless and down on the ice. Fact, not opinion.
I don’t know what part you’re missing, but you are entitled to your opinion, even if it is wrong.
If a bullet grazed your ear, would you be ok with someone saying the shot wasn’t vicious? I’m betting not.
Wow! Seriously, thank you. When you start comparing what Benn did, to what Bertuzzi did, and follow it up with “weaponizing of his stick”, and “a bullet grazed your ear”, you help me prove my point.
Like I said, Hilarious overreaction. Not surprising though.
Would a slash that gets 2 minutes be considered weaponizing your stick? I don’t condone what Benn did but that argument is weak af.
A guy that would do this should not be the captain of your team.
Dallas has had lots of dirty players over the years. Benn learned from the best.
Nice game pretty boy!
I suppose next you’re gonna tell me that you’re driving him to the airport?
The only recent 1st period worse than Dallas’ was their AHL teams game 5 collapse vs Milwaukee.
My Stars winning the Cup prediction has as much of a chance as Benn does of playing in game 6. :/
that was a great collapse to watch being a admirals fan lol
Kemmel finding his scoring touch already.
Benn is a cheap shot artist. He ended Dylan Larkins season a couple years ago with a cross check at the face off circle.
He thinks he’s a bad ass and a great fighter. Funny how he never takes on legit heavy’s.
Honestly, could you imagine Benn running around doing these cheap shops if guys like the Bruise Brothers were still playing?
Old time hockey
Old time hockey if he gets no suspension and his face punched in 2min after he thinks about life in the box