Stars Captain Faces Discipline After Playoffs Incident

Jamie Benn Suspended Two Games for Cross-Check on Mark Stone

Stars Captain Faces Discipline After Playoffs Incident

Benn's Penalty Draws Attention to NHL's Enforcement of Cross-Checking

Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn has been suspended two games for cross-checking Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone during Game 3 of their Western Conference semifinal series. The incident occurred in the second period of the game, when Benn delivered a hard cross-check to Stone's face while Stone was down on the ice. Stone was visibly shaken by the hit and left the game briefly but returned in the third period.

The NHL Department of Player Safety announced Benn's suspension on Sunday. The league deemed the hit to be illegal and worthy of a two-game ban. Benn will miss Game 4 of the series on Monday night and Game 5 on Wednesday night if the series goes that far. The Stars currently hold a 2-1 lead in the series.

Benn's suspension has drawn attention to the NHL's enforcement of cross-checking. The league has been criticized in recent years for allowing cross-checking to become too prevalent in the game. Critics argue that cross-checking can lead to serious injuries and can also be used to intimidate opponents. The NHL has taken steps in recent seasons to crack down on cross-checking, but the issue remains a problem.