"He's still day to day, but he won't play tomorrow," Stars coach Lindy Ruff said after practice Tuesday.
Benn hasn't missed a game with an injury since March 14, 2013 (wrist). He's played in every regular-season game since the 2014-15 season; Benn last missed a game April 11, 2014, the last game of the regular season when he was a healthy scratch to rest for the Stanely Cup Playoffs.
He played through much of the 2014-15 season with two injured hips that later required surgery and won the Art Ross Trophy as the leading scorer in the NHL. Benn had surgery in the offseason on a core muscle that forced him to miss the World Cup of Hockey 2016 but was ready for the start of the season.
Benn said Monday he wants to play every game and was hopeful to play against Montreal on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; SN360, SNE, SNO, FS-SW, RDS, NHL.TV)).
"This is a situation where it's our responsibility to keep him out," Ruff said. "He could probably play, but to what effect he would be and where he would be in a couple days would be a big concern of ours."
Benn has 34 points (10 goals) in 38 games this season, including six points during a four-game point streak that was extended against Florida.
Left wing Antoine Roussel could return Wednesday. He hasn't played since sustaining an upper-body injury in practice on Dec. 21. He rotated in on a line with Devin Shore and Adam Cracknell in practice Tuesday.
"I think it's getting there," Roussel said. "I feel pretty good, skated pretty well. It [stinks] missing games, obviously. Getting back at it is always harder. … really hope to come back tomorrow."
If Roussel comes off injured reserve, the Stars will have to make another roster move Wednesday.
