Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn needed stitches and will miss at least the next two road contests after slamming face-first into the ice on Sunday.
> At a Glance
> – Jamie Benn exited on a bloody stretcher and won’t travel to Carolina or Washington
> – The 36-year-old winger is still being evaluated after a third-period fall versus Montréal
> – Dallas carries a five-game losing streak into a six-game trip
> – Why it matters: The veteran leader’s absence deepens the slide for a struggling 23-game roster
Dallas now faces a daunting six-game road swing without its long-time captain, who was hurt early in the third period of a 4-3 overtime loss to Montréal.
Injury Details
Coach Glen Gulutzan said Monday that Benn, one of only four NHLers still exempt from the visor rule, caught a rut after contact with a Canadiens player and hit the ice nose-first. He left a trail of blood while being helped to the locker room and did not return.
- Required procedure: stitches to close the nasal laceration
- Timeline: re-evaluation ongoing; trip status unclear after Washington
- Games likely missed: Tuesday at Carolina, Wednesday at Washington, possibly Saturday at San Jose
Benn’s Season So Far
The 17-year veteran had already missed Dallas’ first 19 contests while recovering from a punctured lung suffered in the preseason. Through 23 games he has seven goals and seven assists.
| Season Stats | Total |
|---|---|
| Goals | 7 |
| Assists | 7 |
| Games Played | 23 |
Upcoming Road Trip
The Stars are 0-5 in their recent stretch and now hit the road for three time zones in nine days:
- Tuesday: at Carolina
- Wednesday: at Washington
- Saturday: at San Jose
- Three more West-Coast stops follow
Key Takeaways
- Benn’s facial injury sidelines him for the start of a pivotal six-game trek
- Dallas has lost five straight and needs points in a tight Central race
- The captain could rejoin the club on the West Coast portion of the trip
- His absence tests forward depth already challenged by earlier health issues
The club hopes to halt its slide beginning Tuesday while its captain heals back home.
