NHL Fans Ripped Jamie Benn for Dirty Hit From Behind on Bruins' Brandon Carlo

Carlo was hit into the boards by Dallas' Jamie Benn | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

In the first period of the Boston Bruins' matchup against the Dallas Stars on Thursday night, defenseman Brandon Carlo took a nasty hit from behind courtesy of forward Jamie Benn.

The hit was originally dubbed a five-minute major, but referees reduced it to a minor penalty upon review.

Brandon Carlo is hit from behind from Jamie Benn.

A scary play all around. pic.twitter.com/08e5vGZkoO
— Conor Ryan (@ConorRyan_93) November 15, 2024

Carlo, who the Bruins signed to a six-year, $24.6 million contract heading into 2021, has six documented concussions in his NHL career. Fans and media were naturally not happy about the hit.

I cannot believe the officials reviewed this hit by Jamie Benn on Brandon Carlo and called it a minor. This is a textbook boarding and a multi-game suspension by any standard.

NHL officiating has never been in a greater crisis & it gets worse every year pic.twitter.com/hUwqVx8zfY
— Boston Bruins Watcher (@WatcherBruins) November 15, 2024

.@BJaffe was NOT happy with Benn's hit on Carlo being assessed a minor:

"I don't get it... Brandon Carlo has got to be entitled to that ice to brace himself."#NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/o8wZ27uZc1
— NESN (@NESN) November 15, 2024

Absolutely bullshit hit by Jamie Benn pic.twitter.com/vWfRTlnixR
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) November 15, 2024

Dangerous, reckless hit from behind by Jamie Benn on Brandon Carlo. Deemed a 2-minute slap on the wrist minor by the officials. Carlo, a player with a significant concussion history, immediately goes off the ice. Benn knows better than to pull this crap pic.twitter.com/vpgK46lE9s
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) November 15, 2024

Dangerous, violent, reckless hit by Jamie Benn as he finishes entirely through the numbers of Brandon Carlo. It’s not on Carlo to “protect” himself here, by the way, it’s on the league and opposing player. Given his concussion history, just hoping for the best here. #NHLBruins https://t.co/YxMgzbP0wS
— Bruins Network (@BruinsNetwork) November 15, 2024

Fellow defenseman Nikita Zadorov took matters into his own hands and unloaded on Benn following the hit:

Nikita Zadorov unloads on Jamie Benn after Benn boarded Brandon Carlo: pic.twitter.com/jfq0dhXAg0
— Evan Marinofsky (@EvanMarinofsky) November 15, 2024

Carlo has since returned to the contest in Dallas.