DALLAS --Jamie Benn said it was agonizing to sit out Games 4 and 5 of the Western Conference Final against the Vegas Golden Knights after the Dallas Stars captain was suspended.
The Stars were able to avoid elimination in the best-of-7 series by winning both games, and Benn will return for Game 6 at American Airlines Center on Monday (8 p.m. ET; ESPN, ESPN+, CBC, SN, TVAS) with the Golden Knights leading, 3-2.
"It [stinks] watching, especially in the playoffs," Benn said. "The guys played two great games and battled back into this series and I'm looking forward to playing another big one tonight."
Benn was suspended two games by the NHL Department of Player Safety for cross-checking Golden Knights forward Mark Stone 1:53 into Game 3. Benn was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct, and the the Golden Knights scored on the ensuing power play to give them a two-goal lead on their way to a 4-0 win. The victory gave Vegas a 3-0 lead in the series and put Dallas on the brink of elimination.
Dallas, however, won 3-2 in overtime in Game 4 at home and 4-2 in Game 5 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to bring the series back here.
"Two gutsy efforts, character wins," Benn said. "We have a lot of confidence in this room. The first three (games) didn't go the way we wanted, but it takes four to win and we're going to have another big character game here tonight. I'm excited to play. I didn't want the season to end on that note, so I'm looking forward to tonight."
The Stars used Benn's absence as extra motivation facing elimination, not wanting their captain to have his season end during a suspension.
"That was one thing, but we didn't want our season to end in general," Dallas forward Jason Robertson said. "I think if you're looking at the big picture, everyone was playing for their lives and also to bring him back. That was something we wanted to do, but we're still in the same situation, so it's definitely a big one tonight."
Benn said he's grateful the Stars were able to pull out two victories without him.
"It means a lot," he said. "I was praying we were going to play two solid games just to get another chance to get a kick at it here and I'm really proud of the guys."
Asked if he would have to control himself from being too hyped about returning to the lineup, Benn said, "Probably."
He did get an opportunity to see the playoffs from a different perspective, watching from the video room rather than the press box.
"You can pick up on certain things watching the game, just managing the puck, making simple plays," Benn said. "But I think it came down to desperate hockey. Our lives are on the line, and we don't want to go home yet."
The few days of rest also did him well.
"You get three, four or five days off, you get some rest, get some good practice time in and I feel energized again," Benn said.
Dallas is trying to become the fifth team in NHL history to win a best-of-7 series after trailing 3-0, and the first to do it in the round before the Stanley Cup Final. Game 7 would be in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
"Obviously it's a big morale boost, having him in the locker room, having him on the ice and on the bench," Robertson said. "His presence on the ice is needed too, especially on the power play and taking draws. He does a lot for us and I'm glad he's back."
Benn has 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 16 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
The forward is expected to play left wing on a line with center Wyatt Johnston and either Tyler Seguin or Ty Dellandrea. Benn started Game 3 with Johnston and Evgenii Dadonov on right wing. Dadonov sustained a lower-body injury in that game after colliding with teammate Roope Hintz and will miss his third consecutive game.
"It's great to have [Benn] back to help us right now," Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen said. "He's excited to get back in the lineup and it's huge for us to have him back. He's pretty vocal in the locker room and when he's on the ice he tries to lead the way and show the other guys how it's done. He plays hard every night and he's a really good player, so it's great to have him back."
