Dallas Stars’ Jamie Benn fined for cross-checking. bit.ly/13wm3l9

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) March 2, 2013

The NHL has fined Jamie Benn $10K for his cross check to the back of Ryan Jones.

The incident stems from Thursday night in Dallas, when Ryan Jones inadvertently collided with Dallas’ netminder Kari Lehtonen.  Before Jones skated away, it appeared he had a quick discussion with Lehtonen, and it appeared that Lehtonen wasn’t ready to tear out Jones’ guts with a goalie stick.  Jones skated towards the benches, play had been whistled for Jones’ two minute interference penalty, when Jamie Benn came from behind and laid the lumber to the back of Ryan Jones.

Benn received a five minute penalty and a game misconduct for the incident.  Fans began clamouring for a suspension almost immediately after the penalty was assessed,  but Jamie Benn received a $10,000 fine instead.

(Side note:  here’s the video on how NHL Player Safety determines how supplemental discipline is handed out.  It’s worth your five minutes.)

Why didn’t Benn get a suspension?  Here are a couple of guesses

• Benn is a first time offender to the Supplemental Discipline Club.  If it was Carcillo, it might have been different.
• It was a nasty cross check to the back.  It wasn’t to the face or the knees.  Also of some importance is the fact that Benn didn’t use his stick as a javelin or other speared object.

Here’s the official release from the NHL.

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Ugly, ugly play.

There was a lot to like in the Edmonton Oilers 5-1 victory over the Dallas Stars tonight. 5 on 5 goals, not too many glaringly bad defensive plays, and some solid goaltending from Devan Dubnyk. Sadly the shutout bid was ended by Jagr, in what seemed to be his 100th goal against the Oilers this year,

However, the night was marred by one rather nasty incident, late in the 3rd, with the game already decided, frustration boiled over for Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars and he blatantly cross-checked Ryan Jones, when Jones had his back turned to him.

Presumably in was in retaliation for Ryan Jones “running” Kari Lehtonen just moments earlier. And by running, I mean getting his feet tangled up and bumping into the Dallas netminder.

It’s an ugly, dirty play. Jones is without the puck, unsuspecting, and I don’t see how a cross-check in that situation can’t be seen as anything but an intent to injure.

Of course, predicting what Brendan Shanahan will decide to do on any given play is a bit of a silly proposition, as NHL suspensions are wildly inconsistent, but my feeling is this should, and probably will be two games.

The rest of the game featured some questionable, chippy play by the Stars as well, and I like the way the Oilers handled it – hitting Dallas where it hurts, on the scoreboard and standings. No need to stoop to their level to “protect” yourselves.

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Jeff – @OilOnWhyte

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Dave – @rustyknuckler