After cross-checking Vegas Golden Knights forward Mark Stone in Game 3 of the Western Conference final on Tuesday, Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn was ejected from the game.
Less than two minutes into the first period, with the Stars down 1-0, the captain-on-captain crime took place. Benn and Stone collided, causing Stone to fall to the ice. While he was down and defenseless, Stone received a nasty cross-check from Benn.
On the play, Benn was also given a five-minute major penalty, and the Golden Knights soon after scored to make it 2-0. Before the game had even reached its first ten minutes, the visitors would add another shortly after Benn’s penalty period was over to take a three-goal lead. The penalty was served by Mason Marchment.
Vegas had a 2-0 advantage in the best-of-seven series going into the game.
Benn logged 0:42 seconds of ice time before his exit. Benn, 33, has three goals and 11 points in 15 games for the Stars in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Fans questioned the move, especially with Dallas trailing in the game. A person wrote on Twitter, “Jamie Benn doing the most idiotic thing when his team is down by one goal and losing the series.” Another fan said, “You can’t do that. Jamie Benn gets 5 and a boot from the game for this cross-check.” While another person wrote, “What a dirty play by Jamie Benn, he should be suspended.”