Stars captain Benn fined for sucker-punching Jets centre Scheifele

Dallas Stars' Jamie Benn (14) skates to the puck in the first period in Game 7 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series againts the Colorado Avalanche Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

NEW YORK — The NHL has fined Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn US$5,000 for punching Jets forward Mark Scheifele during Game 5 of the team’s second-round playoff series.

Benn sucker-punched Scheifele during a scrum at 13:28 of the third period of the game Thursday night in Winnipeg. Scheifele, who sustained a concussion earlier in the post-season, was being held back by linesman Ryan Daisy before the punch, and the two fell to the ice.

Benn was assessed a minor penalty for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct.

The Jets won the game 4-0 to cut the Stars’ lead in the best-of-seven series to 3-2 and force a Game 6 Saturday night in Dallas.

The Jets have yet to win an away game in these playoffs. If they get their first road win on Saturday, Game 7 will go Monday night in Winnipeg. The winner of this series will face the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference final.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 16, 2025.