NHL Central

Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn has been suspended two games for cross-checking Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday, the NHL Department of Player Safety announced Wednesday.

Benn was ejected and given a five-minute major penalty about two minutes into the first period of Game 3 after cross-checking Stone in the head.

Jamie Benn was given a 5 minute major on this play https://t.co/NZESKh2JtL

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 24, 2023

"It is important to note that Benn is in control of this play at all times and makes the decision to deliver a forceful cross-check to a prone player," the NHL Department of Player Safety said in a video explaining the suspension. "This is simply an unnecessarily dangerous decision by Benn and it is delivered with sufficient intent and force to merit supplemental discipline."

Benn told reporters Wednesday that the hit happened in the "heat of the moment."

"I need to be more responsible with my body and my stick," Benn said. "My first shift of a game on home ice when you're pretty jacked up and down 1-0, so you want to try to get your team going. Emotions are high and, you know, it was just an unfortunate play."

Stone told reporters: "It didn't feel good. I think I was more a little bit surprised. It was early in the game; it was my first shift of the game. I didn't expect to get stomped on like that. But I could hear the ref making sure I was all right and I felt OK to get up. The refs made sure the right call was made."

Stars head coach Peter DeBoer acknowledged after the game that Benn "made a mistake" and he "feels really badly about it."

The Stars, down 3-0 to the Golden Knights, will now be without Benn for a potential elimination Game 4 on Thursday at American Airlines Center. If Dallas forces a Game 5, the captain will also miss that matchup.

Luke Glendening or Fredrik Olofsson figures to slot into the Dallas lineup for Game 4.

If the Stars are swept out of the Western Conference Finals, Benn will serve the second game of his suspension to open the 2023-24 campaign.

The Dallas Stars faced a must-win Game 3 at home on Tuesday night, trailing the Vegas Golden Nights 2-0 in the Western Conference Finals.

And absolutely everything went wrong instead.

Captain Jamie Benn got himself ejected within minutes of the opening face-off, Jake Oettinger gave up three goals on five shots in the first period before getting the hook and the Golden Knights rolled to a 4-0 victory that put them one win away from the Stanley Cup Finals.

Eichel with a WICKED cross-ice dish for the goal 😱 https://t.co/ORQrxHy2Yh

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 24, 2023

Vegas takes advantage of the long powerplay 👀 https://t.co/rbhMg8lWjU

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 24, 2023

IT'S NOW 3-0 VEGAS JUST 7 MINUTES IN 😱

Wedgewood is now in the game replacing Oettinger https://t.co/l4r7JVLfes

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 24, 2023

and that'll be a 4-0 hockey game... 😱 https://t.co/pxsG5uJCuj

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 24, 2023

Jonathan Marchessault, Ivan Barbashev, William Carrier and Alex Pietrangelo scored for Vegas. Barbashev and Nicolas Roy added two assists apiece.

Benn set the tone for the entire game with a head-scratching cross-check to the face of Mark Stone, with the Golden Knights already leading 1-0.

Jamie Benn was given a 5 minute major on this play https://t.co/NZESKh2JtL

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 24, 2023

He was promptly given a five-minute game misconduct, was ejected and the Golden Knights scored on the ensuing power play to go up 2-0.

And NHL Twitter let him hear about it:

What is Jamie Benn doing here? Dirty play. 5-minute major & a game misconduct is the right call. pic.twitter.com/5ycSZsmnfx

— Julie Stewart-Binks (@JSB_TV) May 24, 2023

What is Jamie Benn doing there ? Brutal penalty to take

— Ryan Whitney (@ryanwhitney6) May 24, 2023

Benn gone for the night. Major and Game Misconduct…silly move just 1:53 in to the game.#StanleyCupPlayoffs

— John Shannon (@JShannonhl) May 24, 2023

The Dallas Stars season may have just ended on a bone-headed play from the person you'd least expect a boneheaded play from.

— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) May 24, 2023

Penalty is uphold. Game misconduct for Benn. Not exactly captain-like! https://t.co/mKtLMnerSA

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) May 24, 2023

Wow five-minutes and a game misconduct to Jamie Benn for the cross check. Just a really careless, unnecessary play. Stars going on the the PK and will play short all night for the next 58 minutes.

— Saad Yousuf (@SaadYousuf126) May 24, 2023

And then there was Oettinger.

Within seven minutes, he had the Stars down three goals, and it was clear he simply wasn't sharp from the get go.

Suffice to say, NHL Twitter had thoughts:

Jake Oettinger nation has no comment at this time please respect our privacy

— Sarah (@skg_18) May 24, 2023

That Jake Oettinger has been slightly above average at best, and flat out awful at worst, has been the most surprising, and least talked about Stars story of these playoffs

— Chuck Cooperstein (@MavsOnPump) May 24, 2023

Oettinger gets pulled just 7:10 into the game.

This is the absolute worst case scenario for Dallas on so many levels.

— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) May 24, 2023

Tough growing pains for Jake Oettinger in this postseason run.

It's difficult to watch -- but this kind of mental scar tissue can pay dividends down the road.

Andrei Vasilevskiy was 4-5 and gave up 26 goals in his first 12 career playoff appearances. https://t.co/H5fpAEk4Ii

— Brien Rea (@BrienRea) May 24, 2023

There are blowouts, and then there are games where one team appears to drain the will to compete out of their competitor. This was the latter, and it's hard to envision a scenario where the Stars actually make this a series.

Perhaps no image better summed up the night than a livid Max Domi trying to scrap with a visibly amused Nic Hauge, who simply kept him at bay:

Nic Hauge straight up giggling while Max Domi tries to scrap 😭

(via @Sportsnet) pic.twitter.com/7ta885JZFW

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 24, 2023

The Stars need to dig deep after Tuesday night. If they replicate Game 3's effort, they'll find themselves on vacation by the end of the week.

Game 4 will be in Dallas on Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN).

Former NHL head coach Joel Quenneville is set to meet with commissioner Gary Bettman after he resigned his position with the Florida Panthers in October 2021 amid an investigation into allegations of sexual assault and a coverup by team officials when he was with the Chicago Blackhawks.

Per TSN's Darren Dreger, Quenneville and Bettman will meet "as soon as the season ends" to review his status in the league.

The Blackhawks hired an independent firm to investigate allegations of sexual assault made by former prospect Kyle Beach involving video coach Brad Aldrich during the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Findings from the investigation, released in October 2021, revealed Quenneville, team counselor Jim Gary and five members of Chicago's senior management opted to defer any discipline on Aldrich to then-president John McDonough to avoid taking the team's focus away from the postseason.

The 64-year-old resigned his position with the Panthers on Oct. 28, 2021, after results of the investigation became public and he had a meeting with Bettman and others.

Bettman said in a statement at the time that any attempt by Quenneville to reenter the NHL in any capacity would require a meeting between the two "in advance in order to determine the appropriate conditions under which such new employment might take place."

Statement from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on the resignation of Joel Quenneville. pic.twitter.com/1KjdI2SKOL

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) October 29, 2021

Quenneville denied having any knowledge of the allegations against Aldrich when he offered to participate in the review.

"I first learned of these allegations through the media earlier this summer," he said in a statement released by the Panthers on July 13, 2021. "I have contacted the Blackhawks organization to let them know I will support and participate in the independent review. Out of respect for all those involved, I won't comment further while this matter is before the courts."

The investigation determined on May 23, 2010, "Blackhawks' Senior Director of Hockey Administration Al MacIsaac was told by a Blackhawks employee that there may have been a sexual encounter involving Aldrich and John Doe."

MacIsaac relayed the information to Gary. Later that same day, the team counselor spoke with Quenneville and the members of senior management "to discuss what had been learned about Aldrich and John Doe."

The meeting between Gary, Quenneville and Blackhawks senior management occurred "within an hour" of the team's Game 4 victory over the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference Final, which clinched a berth in the Stanley Cup Final.

Beach revealed himself to be John Doe after the results of the investigation were made public.

Quenneville, who was fired by the Blackhawks early in the 2018-19 season after a slow start, was hired by the Panthers in April 2019.

The Arizona Coyotes intend to continue playing at Arizona State University's Mullett Arena during the 2023-24 season after plans to build a new rink in Tempe were rejected by voters on Tuesday, team president and CEO Xavier A. Gutierrez told ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.

"I don't envision a scenario in which the Coyotes are not playing in Mullett Arena next season," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly added.

The Coyotes moved to Mullett Arena for the 2022-23 season after playing at Gila River Arena in Glendale from 2003-2022. The city of Glendale ended its lease with the team after the 2021-22 season.

The Coyotes' plan was to build a $2.1 billion entertainment district in Tempe on city-owned land at Rio Salado Parkway and Priest Drive. The project included a 16,000-seat arena, practice rink, retail space, 1,600 apartments, two hotels and a theatre.

According to Wyshynski, the Coyotes "had been optimistic" about the vote entering Tuesday, but a little more than 56 percent of voters responded "no" on the three ballot propositions needed for the project to be approved.

Gutierrez said in a statement Tuesday:

"We are very disappointed Tempe voters did not approve Propositions 301, 302, and 303. As Tempe Mayor Corey Woods said, it was the best sports deal in Arizona history. The Coyotes wish to thank everyone who supported our efforts and voted yes. So many community leaders stepped up and became our advocates and for that we are truly grateful. We also wish to thank the countless volunteers who worked so hard to try and make the Tempe Entertainment District a reality and the Tempe City Council for their support as well. While we wanted a different outcome, we remain grateful to all those who volunteered their time and talent.

"What is next for the franchise will be evaluated by our owners and the National Hockey League over the coming weeks."

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman also said in a statement that the league is "terribly disappointed" by the results of the voting.

With the project being rejected by voters, the franchise's status in Arizona has been vaulted into question. While relocation has been dismissed ahead of the 2023-24 season, the club's long-term future remains unclear.

A Coyotes source told Wyshynski that there's "no Plan B" for keeping the team in Arizona for the long haul.

The Coyotes have been one of the NHL's most disappointing franchises, having made the playoffs just once in the last 11 seasons, and could highly benefit from relocation.

Fans are now speculating about where the team could be relocated to, including cities such as Houston, Salt Lake City, Kansas City and Quebec City.

Tempe voters rejected the Arizona Coyotes $2.1 billion development proposal on Tuesday night, which included plans for a new stadium.

The Coyotes needed voters to approve three separate propositions, and all three were voted down:

Here are the current voting results from Arizona, with the prospective Coyotes rink proposals being defeated pic.twitter.com/2edSmQxBzO

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) May 17, 2023

"We are very disappointed Tempe voters did not approve Propositions 301, 302, and 303," Coyotes president and CEO Xavier A. Gutierrez said in a statement. "As Tempe Mayor Corey Woods said, it was the best sports deal in Arizona history. ... What is next for the franchise will be evaluated by our owners and the National Hockey League over the coming weeks."

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman also released a statement following the vote:

Statement from NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman regarding the results of the arena vote in Tempe, Arizona. pic.twitter.com/MVL3AUWP7R

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) May 17, 2023

The Coyotes' plan also included the construction of 2,000 apartments and an entertainment district west of the Tempe Town Lake area which would have included a music venue, hotels, various retail shops and restaurants.

The Coyotes argued that the proposal would have resurrected the current site, which is currently a landfill, and would have done so with private funding that wouldn't have burdened taxpayers, per Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff. They also claimed the project would have created 6,900 permanent jobs and a tax benefit of $215 billion over the next 30 years.

Opposition to the project expressed serious doubt that the city and its taxpayers wouldn't have borne a financial burden.

Seravalli noted that the city and taxpayers were projected to pick up the "$40 million cost of hazardous waste removal and cleanup, plus another $200 million in infrastructure costs to lay the literal groundwork for the project. The usual complaints of increased traffic, proximity of a new in-arena sportsbook to Arizona State University's campus, and impact on local residents and businesses have also been documented."

Having covered Gary Bettman for the last few decades, I believe two things:

1 - He will fight to keep the Coyotes in Arizona until there are zero options left for them in that market. And this might be zero hour.
2 - He's already game-planned for tonight's result happening. https://t.co/Trb1Ec9i52

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) May 17, 2023

The question for the Coyotes is a pretty simple one at this point—do they have a future in the Phoenix area?

Since 1996, the organization has called the area its home after being relocated from Winnipeg. But given the decision of Tempe's voters on Tuesday night, that era may be coming to an end.

The Dallas Stars have advanced to the Western Conference Final with a 2-1 win over the Seattle Kraken in Game 7 of their second-round series on Monday.

After a scoreless first period, Roope Hintz got the Stars on the board with an unassisted goal to continue an impressive postseason performance. With 19 points, Hintz now trails Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid for the points lead in the playoffs.

Wyatt Johnston added an insurance goal for the Stars at the 12:48 mark of the third period. Evgenii Dadonov and Thomas Harley were both credited on the assist. It turned out to be the game-winner, as Oliver Bjorkstrand scored a late goal for the Kraken with just 18 seconds remaining in the game.

The goals by Hintz and Johnston had Twitter hyped as the Stars made it back to the conference final for the first time since the 2020 season:

ROOPE HINTZ GOT THE STARS ON THE BOARD FIRST IN GAME 7‼️ pic.twitter.com/yMhrKw8moa

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 16, 2023

Roope Hintz is now second in the NHL Playoffs in points 👀

He's one point behind McDavid for first place 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YNcdYtQ9Uh

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) May 16, 2023

Roope Hintz was a TOP10 center in the regular season by the way. Still underrated player.

— Rono (@RonoAnalyst) May 16, 2023

Roope Hintz is some kind of player.

— Travis Yost (@travisyost) May 16, 2023

Roope Hintz is made for the playoffs

— Tom Vecchio (@Tom_Vecchio1) May 16, 2023

Your 2023 Conn Smythe favorite: Roope Hintz?

— Matt Reitz (@ViewFromMySeats) May 16, 2023

WYATT JOHNSTON is so yucky

— Nick Alberga (@thegoldenmuzzy) May 16, 2023

Wyatt Johnston, wow he made that look easy. The 20-year-old

2-0, Stars

— Saad Yousuf (@SaadYousuf126) May 16, 2023

Oh my Wyatt Johnston. 2-0 Stars

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) May 16, 2023

What a play by Johnston. He's ahead of the pack on what would have been an icing. The puck comes off the end boards, and he roofs it short side with a backhand. 2-0, Dallas, with 7:12 to go.

— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) May 16, 2023

Retroactively make him a Calder Finalist

— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) May 16, 2023

Wyatt Johnston what did you do ?????

— Hailey Salvian (@hailey_salvian) May 16, 2023

That's an absolutely fantastic goal for Johnston. What a finish.

— Curtis Crabtree (@Curtis_Crabtree) May 16, 2023

The Stars are now set to face the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final. Game 1 is set for Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET.

It might be time to come up with a nickname for the Stars' deadly top line.

Joe Pavelski scored, Jason Robertson racked up three assists and Roope Hintz tallied twice as the Stars won Game 5 over the Seattle Kraken, 5-2, Thursday night in Dallas.

The Stars lead the second-round series, 3-2.

Hintz now has 18 points in 11 playoff games, tying the Edmonton Oilers' Leon Draisaitl for the NHL lead. He holds the Dallas franchise record for points in a single postseason, per the NHL on TNT broadcast.

is roope hintz the most underrated player in the nhl

— x - leo (@goalieenjoyer) May 12, 2023

Roope Hintz is so underrated and I’m so glad he’s popping off in the spotlight

— Jeanty to Dallas? (@beavs22) May 12, 2023

https://twitter.com/RistoPakarinen/status/1656875525053337602

Roope Hintz is Conn Smythe worthy!

— Michael Petersen (@MikeDPete) May 12, 2023

https://twitter.com/ZWal93/status/1656873484230840320

I've been saying it for almost 4yrs now...

ROOPE HINTZ IS THEE MOST UNDERRATED PLAYER.

A SUPER STAR & PERFECT PLAYOFF PLAYER

— SidneyCup: Hockey God Genius (Jeff) (@Jeffs_Penguins) May 12, 2023

Roope Hintz makes it happen for this team. His speed set up that entire sequence. Skates around the trapezoid to the corner, cycles it. Pavelski ends up with it front of the net for Hintz to top bardownski and finish it. Top 5 forward in this league.#TexasHockey

— x-Smitty WerbenJagerManJensen🇺🇸 (@D_S_C_87) May 12, 2023

Robertson, whose goalless drought has now extended to a rare six games, recorded helpers on each of Hintz's goals as well as Pavelski's tally.

https://twitter.com/DalHockeyFans/status/1656876335959031812

Jason Robertson has arrived 🔥

— x - bamboozle (@ibamboozIe) May 12, 2023

https://twitter.com/eileenjforrest/status/1656877709757227008

Jason Robertson is so good that 11 points in 11 games has him on wanted posters in Dallas. 😅😂.

Sure he’s struggled at times and his goal scoring is what you’re waiting for but he’s still had some very good games and a very big impact so far. #TexasHockey

— D 🏆 (@TxForever) May 12, 2023

The Stars scored twice on their first three shots. Wyatt Johnston and Hintz both tallied in the first six minutes, and the Kraken headed into the period break trailing 2-0 despite leading in shots, 14-5.

Pavelski made it three-nil for Dallas with his seventh goal of the postseason just 35 seconds into the second period, but the Kraken responded under two minutes later with a goal from defenseman Adam Larsson to get the visitors on the board.

Seattle tried to gain momentum from Larsson's tally by double-shifting 40-goal scorer Jared McCann. That paid off when McCann scored off of a defender's skate seven minutes into the second, cutting the Stars' lead to 3-2.

In the third period, confusion took over American Airlines Center as referees waved for play to continue after Hintz scored top-shelf over Philipp Grubauer's blocker. The play was whistled dead moments later, and fans began a belated celebration as the Stars regained a late two-goal lead, 4-2. An empty-net tally sealed the win.

The Stars now have the chance to close out the series in Seattle, where the Kraken will fight to extend their season Saturday at Climate Pledge Arena. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET.

It was the most dominant 20 minutes of hockey thus far in these Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Seattle Kraken poured in five goals in the second period en route to a 7-2 win over the Dallas Stars at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle on Sunday night to take a 2-1 series lead.

Goals from Jordan Eberle, Alex Wennberg, Carson Soucy, Matty Beniers and Eeli Tolvanen contributed to an electric and stunning display that effectively won the game for the Kraken as they took a 5-1 lead into the final period.

But they didn't stop there as Yanni Gourde and Justin Schultz tacked on another two goals to complete the rout and put an exclamation point on one of the best playoff displays this year.

None of that would have happened, however, without the superb play from goalie Philipp Grubauer, who kept the Stars scoreless in the first period and held off an onslaught the rest of the game as the visitors tried to get back into it.

Grubauer was arguably the team's MVP as he saved 24-of-26 shots for a .923 save percentage, keeping Dallas at bay after it scored four goals in its Game 2 win.

NHL Twitter went wild after watching how strong the Kraken came out to defend their home ice.

GOAL NUMBER 5️⃣ FOR THE KRAKEN IN THE 2ND‼️

Seattle leads Dallas 5-1 in Game 3. pic.twitter.com/j3sNnwaQJF

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 8, 2023

It's a route. Last two goals have come against the Marchment—Domi—Pavelski line.

3-0, Kraken

— Saad Yousuf (@SaadYousuf126) May 8, 2023

Kraken I don’t know if you will win this series but I’m sorry I ever doubted you. Holy buzzsaw. They are a TEAM playing for each other and it’s evident.

— Brian Boyle (@BriBrows22) May 8, 2023

Again, when people keep asking how the Kraken are doing this, they just showed why.

Three goals from three different scorers in Jordan Eberle, Alexander Wennberg and Carson Soucy in the span of six minutes. #SeaKraken

— Ryan S. Clark (@ryan_s_clark) May 8, 2023

Carson Soucy, clean on Jake Oettinger, five hole, and the floodgates are opening on the Dallas Stars.

Turnabout is fair play here in period two. 3-0 lead and the Kraken have been fully released.

— Mike Benton (@Benton_Mike) May 8, 2023

https://twitter.com/kimischilling/status/1655404578634858497

FERRY HORN 4 - This is ridiculous. Matty Beniers. 4-0

— Tim Booth (@ByTimBooth) May 8, 2023

GIVE US YOUR BEST

🗣️ GRUUUUUUUUUUU pic.twitter.com/7b8cRtsk31

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) May 8, 2023

Kraken make it 5-1. Rough period for Oettinger.

— Mike Heika (@MikeHeika) May 8, 2023

5 goal period, but props go to Gru #SEAKraken pic.twitter.com/QutgpIr96K

— Kraken It Open (@KrakenItOpenNHL) May 8, 2023

Let’s goooooo!!!!! #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/TVlTtV0OsN

— Jake (@JZW73) May 8, 2023

Ol’ fashion ass-kickin’!! @SeattleKraken pic.twitter.com/APkiVjoHGh

— Keegan Hall (@KeeganHall) May 8, 2023

While it's unlikely that that second-period production will be replicated by the Kraken, that type of performance could stick in the back of Dallas' mind throughout the rest of the series.

Because now it knows what Seattle is capable of if it sniffs an opportunity.

The Stars will be looking for a big bounce-back performance in Seattle to avoid falling into a dreaded 3-1 series hole.

Game 4 is set for Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. ET.

The Dallas Stars have canceled a watch party that was planned for Sunday night's Game 3 against the Seattle Kraken in the wake of Saturday's mass shooting at an outlet mall north of Dallas in which eight people were killed and at least seven others were injured.

According to ESPN, the Stars chose not to have the party outside the American Airlines Center "out of respect for the victims, families and community of Allen." Dallas had hosted watch parties for its previous road playoff games.

The plaza outside the team's home arena is less than 30 miles from Allen Premium Outlets, where the shooting occurred. The team's practice facility and offices in Frisco, Texas, are just 14 miles from the mall.

"It's really close to home, obviously, and just tragic," Stars head coach Pete DeBoer said after morning skate in Seattle. "Frankly, when you hear victims as young as five years old, you just, you get tired of hearing it. I think when you hear Sandy Hook and Parkland and Nashville, you know, unless it's in your backyard, you compartmentalize it and put it aside. And then when it happens in your backyard, you realize, you know, the horror of it."

DeBoer, who is in his first year as Dallas head coach, said his family shops at that mall, and some players do as well. He added that the team is "heartbroken" over the shooting and acknowledged that it was not easy to think about playing a game.

The Stars and Kraken are tied 1-1 in the second-round series heading into Sunday's Game 3.