Stars apologize for fans throwing debris on ice - ESPN

DALLAS — The Dallas Stars have apologized to the Vegas Golden Knights and the NHL after their fans tossed debris at opposing players during Game 3 of the Western Conference Final on Tuesday night.

The Stars lost the game 4-0 as the Golden Knights moved to within one victory of a conference final sweep.

«On behalf of the Dallas Stars organization, I would like to apologize to the Vegas Golden Knights and the National Hockey League for the actions of a few of our spectators at last night's game. Their actions were unacceptable and put the safety of the players and fans at risk,» said Brad Alberts, Dallas Stars president and CEO.

With their team down 4-0 in the game, Dallas fans littered the ice with plastic bottles and assorted garbage in protest and frustration.

Near the end of the second period, Dallas forward Max Domi hit Vegas defenseman Nicolas Hague from behind, sending him quickly to the ice. He then skated up to Hague to throw a couple of gloved punches at him. Domi was given cross-checking and roughing minors as well as a 10-minute misconduct.

Stars fans had seen enough. With debris hitting the ice, the referees had the Golden Knights and Stars players leave for their dressing rooms with 21.6 seconds remaining in the second period for their safety.

«Everybody in the building was frustrated,» said Stars coach Peter DeBoer.

The frustration started early. Stars captain Jamie Benn was ejected less than two minutes into the game for a cross-check to the jaw of Vegas captain Mark Stone. Benn has a hearing with the Department of Player Safety on Wednesday. Dallas had taken three previous penalties in the second period before Domi's.

The debris tossing continued when the players returned to finish the game. Vegas goalie