Brendan Shanahan made the move most people in the NHL expected him to late Tuesday night when he announced that Shane Doan was suspended for three games for his elbow to the head of Jamie Benn in Monday’s Dallas Stars game against the Phoenix Coyotes.
He received a minor for elbowing on the play as well as a fighting major after he jumped Brenden Morrow. But the chicken-wing nature of the elbow and the fact that it only caught Benn’s head, as well as Doan’s status as a repeat offender, means he will miss three critical games in a tight playoff race.
Doan will miss games against the Colorado Avalanche, San Jose Sharks and St. Louis Blues. He will return March 29 against the Sharks and be eligible for the final five games of the season.
Doan forfeits $166,463.40 for the suspension because he is a repeat offender based on two previous incidents. He was fined for boarding less than a week ago, and he was suspended for an illegal check to the head in Oct. 2010.
Benn returned to the game, although he took a rough ride into the boards late in the third period after a check by Antoine Vermette. He took the final shootout attempt for the Stars in what would be a 4-3 shootout win.
The NHL’s release and their video of the incident after the jump.
Here’s the official release from the NHL about the suspension.
Phoenix Coyotes forward Shane Doan has been suspended for three games and will forfeit $166,463.40 for elbowing Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn during NHL Game #1094 in Dallas on Tuesday, March 20, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.
Doan, who received a three-game suspension in October 2010, is classified as a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Accordingly, he forfeits his salary based on the number of games in the season (82), rather than the number of days (185). The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
The incident occurred at 5:54 of the second period. Doan was assessed a minor penalty for elbowing on the play.
And here’s Brendan Shanahan’s video explanation.