VIDEO: Matt Cooke's Elbow to Ryan McDonagh's Jaw
by FrankD on Mar 20, 2011 3:17 PM EDT
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PrintAs usual, I find it necessary to dedicate a special post to Matt Cooke's adventures because it often has a way of just taking over every single recap thread anyway. While I'm sure a number of comments in the recap will surround the subject anyway, a separate post should hopefully direct a majority of it to this one location.
So, with that said, how many games is he looking at for this one? Let's also keep in mind that many will cite the fact that he is a "repeat offender," with not only previous incidents in his career to fall back on but also a number of questionable hits, connects and even a suspension this season to stand as evidence.
In addition to whatever ruling comes down from the league, I'm also looking forward to John Tortorella's comments. I mean, if he said himself during the game that you can expect a certain kind of play from Max Talbot, then I'd love to see what he has to say about Cooke.
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Hi! (Had to do it, wasn’t going to comment, was just here to read, but this hopefully helps your comment!)
Writer for Pinstripe Alley, MLB Daily Dish
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Lets go Rangers!
R-U! R-U! R-U! R-U!
Hi. You can stay, as long as you sit in the corner….silently. Hah.
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by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Don’t worry, I get that same reply when I go to my sisters house!
Writer for Pinstripe Alley, MLB Daily Dish
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Lets go Rangers!
R-U! R-U! R-U! R-U!
Your sister is a wise woman.
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by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions
No, she’s a Bruins fan.
Writer for Pinstripe Alley, MLB Daily Dish
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
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R-U! R-U! R-U! R-U!
Touche, touche.
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by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 3:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Good for her: a Bruins fan!
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No excuses. No whining allowed.
Play with HEART; the results will follow.
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by PensFanInDenver on Mar 20, 2011 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Not really, she’s more likely to think Nathan Horton is the founder of Nathan’s Hot Dogs than a player on the Bruins. She just lives in Boston so pretends to be a fan.
Writer for Pinstripe Alley, MLB Daily Dish
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Lets go Rangers!
R-U! R-U! R-U! R-U!
I’m honestly ashamed to call him a Penguin….
by Will87 on Mar 20, 2011 3:33 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Glad...
you guys recognize a dirty player when you see one. Almost unbelievable that he would do it when you guys were controlling the play so well. I mean…no time is a good time for that kind of play, but he gave up the game for the pens.
"I've been really working on stick-handling with my head up,"
- Eric Lindros
by NYRGrady on Mar 20, 2011 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I have never been a fan.
If they want an agitator I wish the would have kept or got back Colby Armstrong. I miss that guy.
The views expressed by craig in calgary do not necessarily represent the views of all Canadians.
I miss him too
although, I don’t really consider him an agitator…
but he is a keep your head up when coming around the goal type of player ;)
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
Colby Armstrong is amazing. That is all.
Certified Grabbo lover. GET WELL SOON, SID
The universe moves depending on where Sidney Crosby is on the ice - IHeartPenguins
"I'm glad we've got the best fans in the league." - Tomas Kaberle on Leaf fans
Cooke easily committed the dumbest penalty of the year
I find it difficult to conclude from the video evidence that Cooke didn’t intentionally attempt to hit McDonagh. high. His only excuse could be that he could see he’d miss McDonagh and put his elbow out to make contact. That’s not much of an excuse.
Cooke’s not a manic like Gilles or Chris Simon. And he doesn’t strike me as a stupid person. Or a selfish player who’d intentionally take penalties that would cost his team. So, I can’t make sense of a blunder like this one.
s.zielinski
by steve_z on Mar 20, 2011 3:50 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I don’t think anybody that plays hockey has the intention of injuring anybody during a hockey game. This was a bad penalty but, I can’t say that was the reason the Pens lost. It was definitely a turning point, but don’t forget Kunitz scored while shorthanded and then Niskanen got caught for a high stick.
I think the excuse that you made is likely what happened, but that is no reason for the flying elbow. Those kind of things happen often throughout the game, but mostly with legs coming out and tripping the opponent who dodged the check.
With all that being said, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a 5 game suspension. I know this isn’t how the NHL should handle these situtaions, but it could have been longer if there was an injury.
by StripesForLife on Mar 20, 2011 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think anybody that plays hockey has the intention of injuring anybody during a hockey game.
I don’t agree with your belief here. A few examples from the top of my head:
Chris Simon tried to — and did — injure Jarko Ruutu when he drove his skate blade into Ruutu’s foot.
Darien Hatcher tried to — and did — injure Crosby when he put the butt end of his stick into Crosby’s mouth.
Ovechkin tried to injure Malkin a few seasons back when he took numerous runs at Malkin’s head.
Gilles tried to — and did — injure Tangradi during the infamous Isles game.
DiPietro tried to injure Matt Cooke in the game that included the Johnson-DiPietro bout.
Some players are truly vicious.
s.zielinski
Jason Blake when he speared Crosby in the balls.
"When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth."
-Roberto
by blackjackfishtaco on Mar 20, 2011 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Lol he speared him on Sid’s side (where there’s no padding), but still dirty.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
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by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t remember that one.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
My Thoughts on the Pens & Twitter
by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions
I looked for a video clip of that one, but I couldn’t find one. It occurred during the opening faceoff of a game. The officials did not call a penalty on the play. But, then again, the officials did not penalize Hatcher for knocking of a few of Crosby’s teeth. They did penalize Crosby for attacking Hatcher afterwords! These are reasons I never feel remorse when I torment Crosby haters. They seem to believe Crosby gets special treatment. And he does. But it’s just not the kind of special treatment they believe it to be!
s.zielinski
Marty McSorley on Donald Brashear.
"When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth."
-Roberto
by blackjackfishtaco on Mar 20, 2011 7:28 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree with Cooke noticed he was going to miss on the hit. Looking at the replay at the end of the video gives the best look from directly across the ice. Cooke appeared to have Mcdonagh lined up for a solid check but Mcdonagh appeared to drift back after dumping the puck and as Cooke came closer instead of the smart play of pulling up, he made the dumbest decision possible in the situation with comming through with his elbows up.
I love Cooke as a player but this type of play really makes it hard to defend his actions at times. But I don’t thing he or anyone else goes into a game or situation to purposely hurt another player. With that said though I do believe, even though this is a very fast paced game, that these players need to be making better choices when it comes to contact with another player.
by Crosby4Prez on Mar 21, 2011 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Mario
Needs to make an example out of Cooke or his words don’t mean shit.
He will look, and be, a hypocrite.
I, for one, and soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
tired of Matt Cooke and his cheap shots.
He dirties the game. He really does.
He used to be a gritty player with an edge.
Now he is just a cheap-shot artist.
Can he get back to being a physically tough and gritty NHL player without the
cheap dirty hits? I don’t know.
Cheers for the Pens! Cheers for the Canucks!
There are no would've, should've, could'ves in Hockey.
No excuses. No whining allowed.
Play with HEART; the results will follow.
Follow me on Twitter as PensFanInDenver
by PensFanInDenver on Mar 20, 2011 3:55 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
So you’re pissed at Cookie…or?
Sorry, I can’t tell.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
My Thoughts on the Pens & Twitter
by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes
Mad at Cooke.
Cheers for the Pens! Cheers for the Canucks!
There are no would've, should've, could'ves in Hockey.
No excuses. No whining allowed.
Play with HEART; the results will follow.
Follow me on Twitter as PensFanInDenver
by PensFanInDenver on Mar 20, 2011 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions
LOLLOLOLOL I was being sarcastic. Sorry.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
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by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions
OHHHHHH
You are very funny, young lady.
I’m just so tired of his crap it’s giving me one big fat headache!
The only person that can really make a change, make a difference in Matt Cooke
is…..Matt Cooke. It’s like a drug addict or an alcoholic—they have to make the
change for themselves. No one can do it for them.
Cheers for the Pens! Cheers for the Canucks!
There are no would've, should've, could'ves in Hockey.
No excuses. No whining allowed.
Play with HEART; the results will follow.
Follow me on Twitter as PensFanInDenver
by PensFanInDenver on Mar 20, 2011 5:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Every single alcoholic and drug addict relapses so even if Cooke does get “clean” he is going to relapse and do that dirty dirty stuff and I’m not talking about heroin.
by Geno McFleury on Mar 20, 2011 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Disagree
Yes, dirty players need punished. But the difference between a Cooke and a Gilles is that Cooke is a hockey player who occasionally commits goonish plays. Gilles is only a goon.
Right, Cooke is very good on the forcheck during 5 on 5 play. And he’s also a very very good penalty killer, where as Gillies is just an @$$hole.
I am "The STIG"!
Agree, after this Cooke is no good to the Pens, that’s not the way to play, when you wear the Pens jersey. There is no doubt that the hit was intentional. They should (and probably will). Either he is incorregible, or too dumb (I don’t believe the latter). Mario and DB will take care of this.
The Hockey Dr.
He’s done for the rest of the regular season if you ask me (and if it were up to me). I love Matt Cooke when he’s playing on the edge and making life miserable for the other team. He’s a very good penalty killer and can put the puck in the net from time to time.. but with this he has crossed the line one too many times. Hopefully he is suspended for the rest of the regular season.
by SidgeniMalsby on Mar 20, 2011 3:57 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I love that edgy Matt Cooke too—but he has crossed the line way too many times.
If he is supended for the rest of the season, so be it.
Cheers for the Pens! Cheers for the Canucks!
There are no would've, should've, could'ves in Hockey.
No excuses. No whining allowed.
Play with HEART; the results will follow.
Follow me on Twitter as PensFanInDenver
by PensFanInDenver on Mar 20, 2011 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions
As a repeat offender, I still don’t see Cooke getting over 10 games. However, 10 games would be fair IMO considering his past.
Thats my reasoning as well.. since he is a repeat offender I would expect 10 games regardless of how much time is left in the season. It just works out that there are 10 games left.
by SidgeniMalsby on Mar 20, 2011 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I just don’t see 10 games. Worth it or not. Lucic got nothing for 2 cross checks to the head within the span of a couple games a few weeks ago.
by StripesForLife on Mar 20, 2011 5:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Cooke has a target on himself already…Plus he’s been suspended this year and plus Mario has made the league look bad with his public critcism of their discipline. 10 wouldn’t shock me.
"Game's the same. Just got more fierce."
Exactly. He’s already been suspended this season for a dirty hit. He already has a reputation for targeting the head (just ask the Bruins). And yes, with the statement Lemieux released as well as his letter to the league, I’d be shocked if it is anything less than the remainder of the regular season.
by SidgeniMalsby on Mar 20, 2011 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions
This isn’t Cooke first rodeo….he’s going to get at least 6 games.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
My Thoughts on the Pens & Twitter
by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 6:11 PM EDT up reply actions
As a Pens fan, I’d give him 5 games because it was so obviously intentional.
However, if the NHL wants to be consistent, it should be a 1-2 game suspension.
Consistent?
Heatley got 2 games and heatleyh is not a repeat offender. So to really be consisten they have to act in accordance with what came out of the GM meetings last week. In this case, they should crack down harder…
"I've been really working on stick-handling with my head up,"
- Eric Lindros
Actually, if the Gilles suspensions have taught us anything, it’s that Cooke will get his previous suspension + 1 game. That’s consistency.
"When I put on my uniform, I feel I am the proudest man on earth."
-Roberto
by blackjackfishtaco on Mar 20, 2011 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Matt Cooke
Not sure he’s as dirty as fans of other teams would have you believe. I personally think Avery is worse but whatever.
He’ll get 8 games. I agree with RJ above that if they were consistent they’d give him 1-2 games. But his name also isn’t Ovi or Pronger…
Signed
Matt Cook (seriously, that’s my name)
That's why...
…Avery is benched. He took a run at someone on the canadiens a few games back, and torts scratched his *ss. No room for that garbage…from avery or anyone else in the league…
"I've been really working on stick-handling with my head up,"
- Eric Lindros
PS
I wouldnt mind seeing avery disappear permanantly from the nhl
"I've been really working on stick-handling with my head up,"
- Eric Lindros
I agree: I don’t think he’s as dirty a player as he is often painted. But today’s play certainly doesn’t help our case for that. It was a totally boneheaded move on his part, and he needs to figure out how to play in a way such that he no longer does this sort of thing.
P.S. So sorry about your name!
i might be an idiot.
Edzo: That was a cheap shot by Matt Cooke".
I beg to differ Mr. Olczyk. As Frank wrote in his headline from the game recap: Matt Cooke Penalty Costs Pens the Game… That’s not a cheap elbow at all, in fact I’d say it was a “very expensive shot”. Not to mention the cost in games he’ll sit out. But that’s classic Matt Cooke, you gotta take the good with the bad if he’s on your team. And IMO, I still think the good outway the bad, but it does seem that the bad is getting a bit closer to the good lately.
I am "The STIG"!
If the league won't suspend him for the rest of the regular season...
… the Pens should.
This crap from Cooke has got to stop. He’s signed for another 2 years and really needs to get the message that needless dumb penalties like this are absolutely not acceptable.
"Oh, buy Sam a drink and get his dog one too!" - Mike Lange
I’ve had enough of matt cooke. This was a dumbass play that really hurt the team. No reason to do what he did he could have just hit him body on body…but no cooke went for the head….as long as cooke is on the team the penguins will continue to look like a joke when they push for zero tolerance on head shots. How much can the pens put up with.. being a good penalty killer and a good grinder only goes so far….
by genomachine-O on Mar 20, 2011 6:11 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
If cooke is still a penguin next season I will be shocked
by genomachine-O on Mar 20, 2011 6:13 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I won’t. I don’t think he can be traded or anything…he has a NMC in his contract.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
My Thoughts on the Pens & Twitter
by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions
We can’t, says the CBA. Yeesh.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
My Thoughts on the Pens & Twitter
by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions
We can buy him out. Dunno what his cap hit would be though…
TANG FOR NORRIS!
by lostprophetRJX on Mar 20, 2011 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t think we can do that either…at least not right now.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
My Thoughts on the Pens & Twitter
by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions
I totally agree with Genomachine-o….no matter what the NHL hands down to him, I think the Penguins organization needs to discipline him as well. After publicly criticizing the league after hits on Crosby and Tangradi, they can’t stand back and let the league take care of this on it’s own. They need to prove how serious they are about head shots, and there’s no better way to do that than to make an example out of Cooke. I like Cooke and his edgy style of play, but he casts a bad light on our team and it’s getting to be a broken record. Or I guess they could just let Kane knock his a** out again like he did after the Savard hit.
by Tick Rocchet on Mar 20, 2011 6:59 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Considering the wheel-o-justice that the NHL currently uses to dish out punishments, he probably won’t get suspended.
But hey, Avery talks about banging Elisha Cuthbert, and he gets six games and anger management.
I love Colin Campbell…
Hi.
He’ll get suspended, don’t worry. Maybe not as many games as y’all would like, but he will.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
My Thoughts on the Pens & Twitter
by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 20, 2011 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions
That wasn’t really a shot at Cooke or anything, more of a shot at the roulette-style suspension system the league has.
He will probably get six games. At this point, it’s safe to say that both teams will make the playoffs, so only April-June really matter.
by Dave Shapiro on Mar 20, 2011 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Dave, I’m not sure how long it will be regardless of the suspension before Blysma actually puts him in a game. Like Tortorella did with Avery.
The Hockey Dr.
You know, it’s funny…if Cooke wasn’t so Cooke-ish, he would be a good hockey player. Same with Avery when he doesn’t cross the line, like he did against the Islanders in the third period (hasn’t played since).
When those two toe the line, and don’t cross it, they are great players to have on your team. But when they cross the line, it’s usually in epic fashion.
Granted, sloppy seconds isn’t really crossing the line, I’m talking about on the ice antics.
by Dave Shapiro on Mar 21, 2011 10:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Gut feeling it will be a significant suspension length and possibly a fine. The NHL really is trying to show there is some bite behind their bark with all this headshot stuff.
At the end of the day the fact that McDonagh isn’t injured is what Rangers fans care about most. Of course we, and most NHL fans, would like to see Cooke face disciplinary action for what happened but I for one am a little disillusioned with how effective it is to punish a guy by suspending for several games without pay. All the same I hope Cooke gets something, I expect it to be in the 6-10 game range.
@DigDeepNYR
"I like a man who grins when he fights." -Sir Winston Churchill
"It's just pain." -Brandon Prust | "In Prust we Trust."
I'm with you.
Significant suspension, and a fine. I’m thinking 10 or so games to make an example of him, as they did with Gillies from the Isles.
That is, unless the NHL really wants to throw the book at him and suspend Cooke for the season including the playoffs. I think that is unlikely – and excessive – but still conceivable step by the NHL to show they mean business.
The Pens need a tough team to protect Sidney Crosby from excesses by the other teams, but Matt Cooke isn’t doing that. He’s head-hunting and knee-capping. Disgusting.
It’s really remarkable that the Steelers and the Penguins – with all their history, tradition, and championships – employ in James Harrison (and sometimes Ike Taylor and Ryan Clark) and Matt Cooke some of the most ruthless men in their sport. Harrison and Cooke, at least, they seem oblivious to the fact that the sport is changing around them in part because of the way they play.
Personally, I respect both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pens for their history, but someone in that town has to talk those players them down from the ledge. Not every sporting contest is a conflict with your mortal enemy.
6 games well spent..
if I could talk about that, I would take the 6 games no problem ;)
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
A while back (don’t recall which Cooke indiscretion inspired it) but I wished him off the team because he’s a disgrace to the Penguins. Today just confirms it. There’s no excuse, no defending, I really hope he’s banished. This team deserves better than him. Like I’ve said, he seems nice off the ice, but that means nothing when he acts the way he does on the ice. He cost his team 2 points today, I hope the guys blast him for it. Pathetic.
I’m done now. carry on.
"Look at Lemieux! Oh my goodness, what a goal, what a move! Oh baby!" - Bob Cole
Twitter @marcy8771
5 games
I think the fact that McDonaugh wasn’t hurt on the play will factor in on it… And the fact that all headshots are still not disallowed, they won’t just suspend him for the rest of the season. What Gillies did the 2nd time he was suspended was worse than this and he got what, 10 more games? I would say no way Cooke gets more than 10, but I’m guessing it will be in the 5 range.
There's an 87% chance this post is sarcasm...
no excuse for this crap
Much as I recognize that Cooke has legit NHL skills, I’m getting really, really tired of this nonsense. That penalty was a killer in the game, and the Pens need to be credible about cheap shots out of the game. Come on, we can’t be bigger goons than the Flyers
P is for Latrobe.
I almost starting liking him after 24/7. Seems like a good guy off the ice but just loses his mind on the ice at times. Which is a pity because he can actually play (unlike some of the other idiots out there) which almost makes it worse when he resorts to being an idiot. So when does his contract end?
Because Im not a Penguin fan, I don’t often share my opinions here often
However I am always interested in reading and following the opinions and thoughts on this site.
I would like to pose a honest question to you.
Do you suppose that Cooke will get passionately booed by penguin fans?
Would you boo him?
Hello. Don’t worry about being a Pens fan when sharing your opinion here. These guys are cool :)
Certified Grabbo lover. GET WELL SOON, SID
The universe moves depending on where Sidney Crosby is on the ice - IHeartPenguins
"I'm glad we've got the best fans in the league." - Tomas Kaberle on Leaf fans
boo? nah, not gonna boo the guy, he’s contributed a lot to the team’s success the past couple of years.
but if this hit happened last year (and this is waaay worse than the hit on Savard) then Cooke wouldn’t get a big extension from GMRS. and I would be fine with that.
by mcnulty4prez on Mar 20, 2011 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions
When the replay was shown on the j-tron at CEC yesterday, fans booed loudly. I don’t know if fans will boo when Cooke comes back, but I’d be willing to bet there will be some boos.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
My Thoughts on the Pens & Twitter
by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 21, 2011 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions
If it was me personally, I would only boo him for the hit but not when he comes back.
Mario Lemieux is better than you.
My Thoughts on the Pens & Twitter
by AllieLXXXVII on Mar 21, 2011 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree that the Pens should discipline Cooke, in addition to whatever he gets from the league (6 games seems in keeping with the suspensions handed out this year). I’ve liked Matt Cooke’s play—especially on the PK—and I was happy when the Pens re-signed him, but the hit today was the tipping point for me. He was surely instructed to tone it down after the Tyutin hit and then again with the team’s new public stance on violence in the game. I thought he was smart enough to clean up his game (at least a little), but that’s clearly not the case.
Cooke has a modified no-trade clause in his contract, not a no-move, so theoretically he could be waived or sent to the AHL, if the Pens should decide to be rid of him. It’ll be interesting to see what, if anything, they do.
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