sleddy2008
03-10-2010, 08:47 PM
C/P from TSN.ca
The Pittsburgh Penguins have been informed by the NHL that forward Matt Cooke will not be suspended for his hit on Boston's Marc Savard.
Savard suffered a grade-two concussion when Cooke levelled him with a shoulder to the head in open ice during a game on Sunday in Pittsburgh.
In explaining his decision, NHL vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell said that the ruling was based on consistency involving similar incidents. Philadelphia's Mike Richards was not suspended for a similar hit on Florida's David Booth last October, so using that as precedent, Cooke was not suspended either.
On Wednesday, the NHL's general managers recommended a new penalty be given for "a lateral, back pressure or blindside hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and or the principal point of contact is not permitted."
If the rule is adopted it will be implemented next season. Campbell said that if the Cooke-Savard incident had taken place under the new rule, Cooke would have been suspended for his hit on Savard. He said that as is currently the policy, suspensions for repeat offenders will be stiffer yet.
Cooke has been suspended twice before for delivering hits to the head. He got two games last November for a deliberate check to the head area of New York Rangers centre Artem Anisimov, and two more in Jan. 2009 for delivering a hit to the head of Carolina Hurricanes' forward Scott Walker.
The Bruins and Penguins meet for the final time this season next Thursday in Boston.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have been informed by the NHL that forward Matt Cooke will not be suspended for his hit on Boston's Marc Savard.
Savard suffered a grade-two concussion when Cooke levelled him with a shoulder to the head in open ice during a game on Sunday in Pittsburgh.
In explaining his decision, NHL vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell said that the ruling was based on consistency involving similar incidents. Philadelphia's Mike Richards was not suspended for a similar hit on Florida's David Booth last October, so using that as precedent, Cooke was not suspended either.
On Wednesday, the NHL's general managers recommended a new penalty be given for "a lateral, back pressure or blindside hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and or the principal point of contact is not permitted."
If the rule is adopted it will be implemented next season. Campbell said that if the Cooke-Savard incident had taken place under the new rule, Cooke would have been suspended for his hit on Savard. He said that as is currently the policy, suspensions for repeat offenders will be stiffer yet.
Cooke has been suspended twice before for delivering hits to the head. He got two games last November for a deliberate check to the head area of New York Rangers centre Artem Anisimov, and two more in Jan. 2009 for delivering a hit to the head of Carolina Hurricanes' forward Scott Walker.
The Bruins and Penguins meet for the final time this season next Thursday in Boston.