Greg WyshynskiESPN2 minute read
Jamie Benn sent off after 5 minute major penalty
Jamie Benn is sent off early in Game 3 after a five-minute major for cross-checking.
DALLAS — The Dallas Stars got off to a disastrous start in Game 3 of Tuesday night’s Western Conference Finals, already trailing 2-0 in the series against the Vegas Golden Knights.
Captain Jamie Benn was sent off just 1:53 from the start of the game for a crosscheck to the neck of Knights captain Mark Stone.
With the Golden Knights leading 1-0 on a Jonathan Marchessault goal just 1:11 from the start of the game, Benn sent Stone down the ice with a miss. With Stone on his back, Benn drove his stick into Stone’s neck area.
On-ice officials gave the Stars winger a match penalty for cross-checking. They reviewed the play and determined that the call was correct.
According to NHL Rule 59, a match penalty for cross-checking may be assessed if the referee believes a player “attempted or deliberately injured his opponent by cross-checking.”
Benn will be eligible for further disciplinary action from the NHL’s Department of Player Safety. George Parros, the league’s director of player safety, was on hand for the game.
Ivan Barbashev made it 2-0 on the five-minute major power play that followed, scoring at 5:57 of the first period. William Carrier scored an even-strength goal 1:13 after that to make it 3-0 and chase away Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger after just 7:10 of ice time.
Substitute goaltender Scott Wedgewood, who last played May 13 against the Seattle Kraken, entered the game.