User Rating: / 0
PoorBest 

Wednesday, 09 February 2011 14:32

Written by Seth Rorabaugh

Penguins forward Matt Cooke has been suspended four games over a hit from behind on Blue Jackets defenseman Fedor Tyutin during last night's game at Consol Energy Center.

The hit occurred at the 14:42 mark of the first period. Following a fight with Columbus forward Derick Brassard, Cooke was given a five minute major for charging on the play.

This is Cooke's third suspension with the Penguins since joining the club in the 2008 offseason.

EN Says: It'll be interesting to see how the Penguins manage their roster with Cooke, Arron Asham, Mike Comrie, Sidney Crosby, Chris Kunitz, Mark Letestu and Evgeni Malkin out of the lineup for various reasons.

Comments (11)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

...
written by JC65, February 09, 2011 - 01:55 PM

Probably the right suspension for the hit viewed in a vacuum. Grossly lenient if you view Cooke's career as a whole.

• 
• -4
• 
• 

...
written by Louder_Is_Best, February 09, 2011 - 02:05 PM

Entirely deserved.

I really like how Cooke plays the game in a lot of ways.....but his cheap shots are inexcusable.

(Except the one on Ovechkin, who does that to other players all the time.)

• 
• +4
• 
• 

...
written by Boom Shaka, February 09, 2011 - 02:10 PM

@Louder_Is_Best, right there with you! I'm full homer on that hit. Objectively it was dirty, or borderline at best but karma's a biatch.

Still shocked that Cooke was playing that foolishly knowing this team's situation. Maybe this suspension will help him re-focus.

• 
• +1
• 
• 

...
written by Disgruntled Goat, February 09, 2011 - 02:44 PM

*t doesn't matter how the Penguins manage their roster at this point, their group of healthy forwards is, in general, not very good, at least offensively. Their best bet is for their defense to carry them until some help arrives. This team now belongs to Marc Andre Fleury. Losing 4-1 at home to Columbus was not a good omen.

Remember that 12 game winning streak? Yeah, me neither.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by Bones, February 09, 2011 - 02:45 PM

Totally agree with you guys. You don't win championships without guys like Cooke, but he just can't stop himself from crossing the line. The frustrating thing is that he doesn't have to play that way, he can be an effective agitator without leaving his feet to blindside a guy. Learn some self-control dude, we need you on the ice!

• 
• +1
• 
• 

...
written by BlackOPs, February 09, 2011 - 03:06 PM

Seth, would you not agree that it is more than beyond time enough for the leaders on this team to have a sit down with Mr. Cooke. As an organization, the Penguins have little to stand on when complaining about blindside hits on their elite players when Cooke is running around doing the same. Its great to watch physical hockey, not so much when its dirty. That phrase 'garage league' is able to creep back into the conversation when this stuff keeps being allowed.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by KRC, February 09, 2011 - 03:49 PM

Tyutin did that on purpose to get a free power play. When's Cooke going to grow up and stop taking the bait?

• 
• +0
• 
• 

...
written by GoHomeFlyers, February 09, 2011 - 04:20 PM

Glad to see some people that are in agreement with the suspension. He flat out drilled a guy between the numbers and left his feet. Cooke had more than enough time to pull up and realize body position. Reverse the situation and put Letang there...Pens fans woulda been screaming murder

• 
• +1
• 
• 

...
written by cappster, February 09, 2011 - 05:11 PM

Wow. Expected to read a string of complaints about how unfair this was. Great to see people are so "right" about this. Cooke is a terrific player and I was thrilled when he re-signed, but this way-beyond-the-line garbage of his has to go. Plays like that just make the targets on Sid and Geno's backs that much more pronounced.

• 
• +2
• 
• 

...
written by bastage42, February 09, 2011 - 06:09 PM

Well the punishment fits the crime -- usually the suspension is based on the result of the crime, so it's nice to see a multi-game suspension doled out that didn't require a major injury to force the league's hand.

But I hope it's addressed within the team, nevermind by the league. I agree with you guys that he can play on the edge, and effectively too, without being an idiot. He has to realize that he's playing as part of a team, and when he does dumb things, he doesn't just hurt other players and his bank account, he hurts his team.

• 
• +1
• 
• 

...
written by ncsurveygirl, February 09, 2011 - 11:29 PM

Did he have any suspensions prior to joining the Pens, I'm going to assume yes? At what point will somebody say enough is enough already with this guy? If its his third with the Pens, three strikes and you're out. I'm begging for that to be the case before someone's career is ended.

• 
• +0
• 
•