Stars captain Jamie Benn fined for cross-check on Wild forward Ryan Hartman

Wild Stars Hockey

Minnesota Wild's Brock Faber (7) controls the puck on an attack as Dallas Stars' Jamie Benn (14) defends in the second period of Game 2 of a first-round NHL Stanley Cup playoffs hockey series Monday, April 20, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)un (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Stars Wild Hockey

Minnesota Wild right wing Ryan Hartman, center, commits a goaltender interference penalty against Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger, left, during the first period of Game 4 in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs Saturday, April 25, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn was fined Wednesday by the NHL for cross-checking Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman after a heated exchange between the players during Game 5 of the first-round playoff series. Benn and Hartman came together with 5:15 left in the Wild's 4-2 win on Tuesday night that gave them a 3-2 series lead. The fine of $2,604.17 against Benn was the maximum allowable under the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund. After Hartman's high shove on Benn near the Minnesota net, the Stars forward gathered himself and responded with cross-checks to the back and then high around the neck/shoulder area. Benn was assessed a minor penalty for cross-checking, and Hartman got a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct, creating a 4-on-4 situation. The Wild host Game 6 on Thursday night, when they have to a chance to clinch their first playoff series victory since 2015. \\\_ AP NHL playoffs: and