Stars Captain Punished for Illegal Play in Game 5 Loss

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn was fined $2,604.17 for an illegal cross check on Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman during the third period of Minnesota’s 4-2 win over the Stars on Tuesday.

Benn’s fine was the maximum allowable under the collective-bargaining agreement.

With Minnesota leading 3-1 in the third period, Benn took a high hit from Hartman. He then delivered two cross checks at the Wild forward, the latter of which came at his head and neck area.

Benn was penalized for the cross check, but so was Hartman, who was issued a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The Stars scored on the subsequent four-on-four when Jason Robertson scored his fifth goal of the series — though it was technically a five-on-four advantage since Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger was on the bench for an extra attacker.

Benn does not have a point in five games in the series. He has eight shots on goal and is minus-5.

“It’s really not that frustrating,” Benn said after the Game 5 loss. “We knew it was going to be a long series. We knew it was going to be a tight series.”

The Stars trail 3-2 in the best-of-7 series. Game 6 is Thursday in St. Paul, Minn.

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