NHL Western Conference Finals Playoffs – Game 3: Dallas – Vegas, May 23, 2023. Jamie Benn (second from right) of the Dallas Stars, Jack Eichel (right) of the Vegas Golden Knights and linesman Brad Kovachik (center ).
New York – The Dallas Mavericks will stave off the threat of elimination in the Stanley Cup semifinals without captain Jamie Benn, who received a two-game suspension for a cross on Vegas captain Mark Stone in Tuesday's game. The Texas team is losing in the series 0-3 and today could end their season. In that case, Benn would serve the rest of his sentence at the beginning of the next year.
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Benn was ejected with just 113 seconds left in the third Western Conference final with five minutes to go. After a clash between the two captains in midfield, Stone fell and the Dallas forward kicked him in the neck as he lay.
“It is important to mention that Benn was in control of his game throughout and decided to hit the vulnerable player hard. It was unnecessary and intentional and deserves punishment,” the NHL said in a statement.
“He made a mistake and he has to face the consequences. I don't think anyone in the hall feels worse about it. I'm not going to make him any more,” he said Dallas coach Peter DeBoer after Tuesday's game. “Fortunately, Mark Stone is fine,” he added.
The 33-year-old Benn has three goals and eight assists in 16 games so far in the playoffs.
For slashing Stone in the third period of the same game another Dallas attacker, Max Domi, was fined $5,000 (110,000 crowns). He escaped punishment for this offense in the match.
