Stars' Benn suspended 2 games after captain-on-captain hit vs. Golden Knights

Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn was suspended two games by the NHL on Wednesday after an ugly hit on Vegas captain Mark Stone in a Game 3 loss that left Dallas on the brink of being swept out of the Western Conference Final.

Benn will miss the must-win Game 4 for the Stars on Thursday night, and Game 5 as well if they win. If Dallas is swept, the suspension would extend to the opener next season.

Benn got a game misconduct for his cross-check less than two minutes into the Tuesday night's game after the captains collided near the blue line. After Stone fell to the ice, Benn lunged forward with both hands on his stick and made contact near Stone's neck as he was sliding over the centre line.

In a video announcing the suspension, the league noted Benn is in control of the play and made the decision to cross-check Stone, who was in a vulnerable position.

Benn had been fined four times but never suspended before in his 14 NHL seasons. Before his hearing Wednesday afternoon, Benn said he wished he hadn't used his stick "as a landing point" during the play.

"Just 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."

Vegas scored on the ensuing power play, doubling its lead, before going on to a 4-0 win to take a 3-0 series lead. With a win Thursday night, the Knights would advance to the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in the franchise's six seasons.

"I didn't love what transpired, but it got handled the right way and we stayed focused as a team," said Stone, who also spoke before the suspension