Dallas Stars Taken Aback With Captain's Tripping Penalty During Overtime

Jamie Benn, captain of the Dallas Stars, was in the penalty box as Kevin Shattenkirk, defenseman of the Tampa Bay Lightning, won Game 4 during the Stanley Cup Final.

The rest of the Dallas Stars believed that their captain should not have been in the box in the first place. As for the Dallas Coach, Rick Bowness verifies that what he saw was a "hockey play." Stars lost their chance with a final standing of 5-4 in favor of the Lightning.

Lightning now has a 3-1 lead over the Stars thanks to their win last Friday in Edmonton, Alberta. They now have the potential to win the Cup on Game 5 this coming Saturday.

Benn was placed in the penalty box for tripping Lightning's Tyler Johnson while both were going for the puck during overtime. Referee Francis Charron whistled because he thought the Dallas Stars captain, who was larger than Johnson, tripped the Lightning's right-wing on purpose.

Stars center Joe Pavelski protested and said that the front referee Kelly Sutherland had a "great look at it," but it was Charron who called the penalty even though he was at the back.

"I don't have a ton of time for a play where Tyler Johnson steps in front of Jamie Benn and has no real effect on the play. Jamie breathes on him, and the guy falls over," he continued.

The center of the Dallas Stars expected to battle it out to 5-on-5, but it appears things did not go as planned. Coach Bowness agreed with the Center that there were no violations, and the penalty was something he did not expect during the overtime.

"I looked at the replay a few times. It's two guys, in the playoffs, and you're going for a loose puck. And they're hooking us, and we're fighting through the hook. That's what I saw," he assured.

It was a huge blow on Dallas Stars' chance to win the Stanley Cup. It looks like Tampa Bay Lightning will have the opportunity instead this coming Saturday.