Penguins Matt Cooke won’t be disciplined for Erik Karlsson hit
By Matt Shetler
Wednesday night, the Ottawa Senators lost much more than a game, when they lost Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson with a laceration to his left achilles, which will require surgery to repair. The young defenseman will be out indefinitely.
Karlsson’s injury happened on a play that’s bound to create some controversy in the league office.
Penguins’ winger Matt Cooke checked him into the boards; you can noticeably see the Penguins left winger’s skate land directly on Karlsson.
Given Cooke’s reputation, many felt that there would be heavy discipline coming his way, but it has been confirmed by the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch that Cooke won’t face any discipline for the hit.
Cooke immediately after the game called the hit an accident (via the Tribune Review’s Josh Yohe), and also expressed remorse about the hit, telling the Post-Gazette’s Dave Molinari: “Obviously, I feel terrible about it. I’m not trying to do that, obviously.”
Matt Cooke: "He and I were engaged. He went down screaming. I didn't even know what happened."
— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) February 14, 2013
That’s something that Senators’ general manager Bryan Murray simply did not agree with.
Murray: "It's Matt Cooke. What else should I say? Watch the replay."
— Josh Yohe (@JoshYohe_PGH) February 14, 2013
Had this play happened two years ago, I would have to agree with Murray, but Cooke has come a long way into cleaning up his act.
That has to stand for something and in this case I believe the NHL acted correctly in not taking action against Cooke.