Stars’ Benn suspended 2 games for hit on Stone
-
Greg Wyshynski, ESPN
Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn has been suspended two games — coming in the playoffs or regular season — for cross-checking against Vegas Golden Knights forward Mark Stone, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Wednesday.
Benn was ejected less than two minutes into the Stars’ 4-0 loss at home in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals for cross-checking Stone, the Vegas captain, around the jaw while Stone was flat on the ice.
“It’s important to note that Benn is in control of this play at all times and makes the decision to deliver a forceful cross-check to a prone player,” the NHL said in its ruling Wednesday afternoon. “This is simply an unnecessary decision by Benn and it is delivered with sufficient intent and force to merit supplemental discipline.”
Sources told ESPN that the NHL landed on a two-game suspension for a few reasons. As the match penalty Benn was given indicated, they believed there was intent to injure on what was a “dangerous” play to an opponent in a prone position.
Why wasn’t this suspension more in line with the one-game ban handed to Vegas defenseman Alex Pietrangelo for his intentional slash on the arm of Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl in Game 4 of their second-round series? The answer is location: The NHL felt that Benn targeting Stone’s neck or head was worse than an arm.
The NHL has typically handed out a one-game suspension for cross-checks during the course of play — like Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Matt Niskanen in 2020 and Los Angeles Kings forward Blake Lizotte this season. But dropping a stick down on a vulnerable player required something more substantial for Benn.
The Stars trail 3-0 in the series and will be without Benn for Thursday’s elimination game in Dallas. Benn will miss the team’s first regular-season game in 2023-24 if the Stars are eliminated in Game 4.
Earlier Wednesday, Benn, when speaking to reporters, described it as a “heat of the moment” play that led to the match penalty Tuesday night. He said he needed to be more responsible with his body and stick.
“That was my first shift of a game on home ice, when you’re pretty jacked up and you’re down 1-0. So you want to try and get your game going. Emotions are high and it’s just an unfortunate play,” Benn said. “I put my team in a tough situation, so it’s pretty unfortunate.”
“It didn’t feel good,” Stone told reporters Wednesday. “I think I was more a little bit surprised. It was early in the game, it was my first shift of the game. I didn’t expect to get stomped on like that. But I could hear the ref making sure I was all right and I felt okay to get up. The refs made sure the right call was made.”
When asked if he would change anything on the play, Benn said he believed that he fell on Stone.
“Obviously, didn’t want to take a five-minute penalty, but when the game happens fast, emotions are high. Obviously I would’ve liked to not fall on him and I guess use my stick as the landing point,” he said.
The NHL also fined Stars forward Max Domi $5,000 on Wednesday for a slashing penalty against Stone at 18:09 of the third period.
Domi wasn’t penalized on that play but he was involved in an earlier mess at the end of the second period when he hit Vegas defenseman Nicolas Hague from behind, then threw a couple of punches at Hague. Domi was assessed cross-checking and roughing minors plus a 10-minute misconduct penalty.
In addition to their captain, the Stars will also potentially be without forward Evgenii Dadonov for Game 4, as he is doubtful with an injury.
Information from Reuters was included in this report.
WASHINGTON — Alex Ovechkin scored his 903rd career NHL goal as the Washington Capitals beat the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 on Monday night.
Ovechkin also passed Gordie Howe for the most regular-season goals scored at a single venue in NHL history with his 442nd goal at Capital One Arena.
Matt Roy also scored for the Capitals, who ended a two-game losing skid to gain some traction in the standings.
Anze Kopitar scored for lone goal for the Kings, who had won four straight. It was just their second regulation road loss of the season.
Washington, which has been struggling to finish at 5-on-5, opened the scoring early, as Roy got to the front of the net and tipped Aliaksei Protas‘ point shot past Darcy Kuemper. It was Roy’s first goal in 25 games, dating to last season.
In the second period, Ovechkin crashed the crease and got to the front of the net before burying a behind-the-net feed from Connor McMichael. Ovechkin now has goals in back-to-back games and three of his past four.
Kopitar pulled Los Angeles to within one with his third goal of the season with 6:33 left in the second. He tapped in a backdoor feed from Corey Perry on a power play. Washington has now given up a power-play goal in three straight games and five of the past six.
Despite a rally, the Kings couldn’t beat Charlie Lindgren, who stopped 30 of 31 shots for his second win of the season after losing his previous four starts.
Kuemper stopped 23 of 25 in the defeat.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Los Angeles Kings have signed winger Adrian Kempe to a new eight-year contract worth $10.625 million annually, the team announced Monday.
The Kings viewed it as a priority to re-sign Kempe, especially as they prepare for captain Anze Kopitar to retire at the end of the season. The sides had been negotiating over the past few months, and Kempe, sources said, took a little less money, indicating his desire to stay in Los Angeles, where he believes he can win a Stanley Cup.
The contract runs through the 2033-34 season. The 29-year-old Kempe, a native of Sweden, has played his entire 10-year career with the Kings after being drafted in the first round in 2014.
Kempe, the Kings’ leading scorer in each of the past two seasons, has six goals and 19 points through 19 games this season.
He was arguably the biggest free agent remaining for the summer of 2026. Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Kirill Kaprizov and Martin Necas all re-signed with their respective teams over the past two months.
-
Sports2 years agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports3 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Sports3 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment1 year agoHere are the best electric bikes you can buy at every price level in October 2024