The Pittsburgh Penguins’ Matt Cooke will not face league discipline for seriously injuring the Ottawa Senators’ Norris winner, Erik Karlsson, Wednesday night.
The National Hockey League has reviewed the Cooke-Karlsson incident, in which Cooke’s skate blade lacerated Karlsson’s Achilles tendon, and the teams’ general managers have been informed there will be no formal hearing or discipline against Cooke.
Confirmed that Matt Cooke won’t receive any discipline from the NHL department of safety. They saw no intent. Blast away fans. #Sens
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) February 14, 2013
Cooke has been suspended several times for hits, some of them involving head shots that injured opposing players. In 2011, Cooke was suspended for the Penguins’ final 10 regular-season games and the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs after an elbow to the head of New York Rangers defenceman Ryan McDonagh.
“We all know who’s involved in it,” Senators coach Paul MacLean said after the Sens’ 4-2 loss. “That’s just the way it is. The injury to Erik was unfortunate, and it happens on a nothing play that could’ve potentially been whistled down.”
Karlsson will need surgery to repair his left Achilles after the tendon was cut by Cooke’s skate blade late in the second period as the two tangled along the boards. He will be out indefinitely.
Karlsson leads NHL defencemen with six goals, scoring three times in his previous four games. He had a shorthanded goal to help the Senators beat Buffalo 2-0 on Tuesday night.
“It’s a tough blow,” Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson said. “Obviously, the way he’s playing, and how much he means to our team, it feels terrible and I feel really bad for him.”
Karlsson immediately fell to the ice and was in visible pain. He needed help getting back to the bench and showed frustration, throwing his stick against the boards before disappearing down the runway.
Needless to say, this won’t satisfy the screams for justice in the nation’s capital. But it’s the right decision by Brendan Shanahan.
— Damien Cox (@DamoSpin) February 14, 2013
Cooke’s one of those “You never want to see anyone get hurt” guys. But people are always getting hurt around him. What’s up with that?
— Mark Spector Sports (@SportsnetSpec) February 14, 2013
In last 4 years, the three best Sens players – Alfredsson/Spezza/Karlsson have all suffered significant injuries in games vs Pittsburgh.
— Ian Mendes (@ian_mendes) February 14, 2013
Craig Adams hit Alfredsson (shoulder injury). Kris Letang hit Spezza (shoulder injury). Matt Cooke on Karlsson (lacerated achilles).
— Ian Mendes (@ian_mendes) February 14, 2013
Tough loss. The game. The best defensemen in the league. Freak accident? video.senators.nhl.com/videocenter/co…
— Craig Anderson (@CraigAnderson41) February 14, 2013
(with files from AP)
