Benn Fined for Head Hit, Playoff Protection Debate

0:00It's April 29th, NHL News today starts now, AI powered and ready for kickoff. Dallas stars Ford. Jamie Ben just got hit with the fine of $2,604.17. The max allowed under the league's collective bargaining agreement for cross-checking Minnesota Wiles Ryan Harman right in the head during game 5 of their playoff series. That infraction happened seconds after Hartman high-stick Ben in a corner-scrum, leading to matching penalties on the ice, but no suspension for. Ben this time around, fans and analysts are fired up because this looks almost identical to what got Toronto's Austin Matthews suspended for two games back in 20. 22. When he cross-checked Buffalo's Rasmus Dallan and the neck after some physical play. The big debate centers on inconsistency from the NHL Department of Player Safety, especially since playoffs often mean lighter punishments to keep. These competitive, unlike the regular season where Matthews got hammered, Ben does have

1:00a track record of fines for roughing, tripping and high-sticking over the years, plus one prior to game suspension, so his history. Factors in, even if he's not officially a repeat offender right now, leaving everyone wondering if playoff protection is the real story here.