PITTSBURGH — The Penguins' Matt Cooke said today he has not heard anything from the NHL about his knee-to-knee hit on the Canes' Erik Cole in Game 1.
"Nothing yet," Cooke said. "It's not my call."
But Cooke said the collision in the third period, which may sideline Cole for one or more games in the series, was accidental and just part of the game.
"He cut across the middle, I was going to hit him, he shot the puck, I looked to find my man and I wasn't even looking at him when we clipped legs," Cooke said after the Pens' practice at Mellon Arena. "I fell down just as hard as he did. I didn't expect to hit him."
Cooke, a bruising forward, said he had "no idea" if the NHL was reviewing the play or considering sanctions. He said the knee-on-knee hit the Washington Capitals' Alex Ovechkin put on Pens defenseman Sergei Gonchar in their semifinal series was worse than his hit on Cole.
"Neither one of them were attacks," Cooke said. "They weren't dirty hits. I didn't expect to hit him."
Asked if he expected any retribution from the Canes in Game 2, Cooke said, "It is what it is."
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
cleanbrain
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 17:00 — canedoHope Canes can keep on their feet in game 2 and play - that would be hockey - hope roughing the goalie isn't the only way Canes can score - cheers to a good series
Yeah...
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 19:41 — MichaelProctonA player who's spent the vast majority of his career on the 4th line sure did make things look pretty "rough" for your boy Fleury Sunday.
It is better
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 16:24 — esteban1949It is better to be silent and thought a fool...than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt...evedently somebody who doen't like the canes forgot what their grandmother taught them...or so it would seem...but I'm a transplanted red neck 7 goober...what would i know ??
Go Canes !!
SWEEP
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 13:37 — loneywatchHEADLINE IN THE POST GAZETTE ON 5-27-09: PENS SWEEP WHALERS. You wood ticks will be forced to go back to watching Hee Haw, rooting for Dale Ernhardt and voting for Jesse Helms. LOSERS
RE: SWEEP
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 14:04 — bmassaraniWow, what an awesome and highly original post. Too bad the Raleigh area is considered one of the best places to live, just ask Ron Francis (wasn't he a penguin once). Then again maybe I should make fun of the fact that you live in Pittsburgh, a drab, ugly, worn-down city that is only known for its long defunct steel industry. Or perhaps you live in one of the washed out mining towns throughout the heart of Pennsylvania, waking up every morning simply to go and drown out your miserable pot-bellied existence at the local watering hole.
Next time you want to make fun of us don't forget the whole Mayberry angle... then you'll have touched all the bases. And all this coming from a guy who sadly lives in PA.
Loneywatch's posts shouldn't
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 14:30 — gocanes2Loneywatch's posts shouldn't even be dignified with a response. Really, this is supposed to be talk about Carolina Hurricanes hockey, not hurling insults about where we live. I highly doubt he's even been to Raleigh so he is completely ignorant about life in the Triangle.
The Golden Triangle?
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 15:08 — loneywatchIf you mean Myanmar(Burma),Laos,Thailand,and Vietnam yes I have visited and it is a lovely vacation spot. It is nicer than the outter banks I must admit.
Pittsdump?
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 16:14 — GoShelfI'd ask you if you'd ever been to the Triangle, but we know you have because most of your family and friends live here now because Pittsburg is an armpit.
Sounds Familiar
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 13:52 — GoShelfYou sound a lot like Devil fans, Bruin fans, and Sabre fans from 06.
I'm from Canada...
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 13:52 — dustinlammersso I can call you Pennsylvania trash? Grow up.
CANADA?
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 14:25 — loneywatchYou meant to say America Jr right
Cliches
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 13:49 — schelle92Why don't you just call us goobers or rednecks and complete your cliche posting? Classy move...including the Whalers jab. The team hasn't existed in 11 years. Yawn.
HEADLINE (remix)
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 13:46 — whirligigPOST GAZETTE forced to go back to watching LOSER PENS.
GOOD ONE
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 14:28 — loneywatchI never knew that a newspaper had eyes. For the record I live in Belgrade, Serbia. You hoopies do know where that is right? Yahoo news is now reporting that the capitol of North Carolina has moved to Mexico City
Hey...
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 14:33 — penaltykiller74You shouldn't be posting on here then. Don't you have to head to Kosovo with Ratko Mladic for some fun and games?
We may be hicks and goobers, but at least we don't have psychos ruining our country and killing our own people.
Go Canes!!!
Which is it?
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 13:02 — Canesfan1287"He was cutting across the middle," Cooke said. "I turned sideways to hit him, and he turned the other way. I almost fell over, too."
"He cut across the middle, I was going to hit him, he shot the puck, I looked to find my man and I wasn't even looking at him when we clipped legs," Cooke said after the Pens' practice at Mellon Arena. "I fell down just as hard as he did. I didn't expect to hit him."
So did he intend to hit him or didn't he?? Everyone watching knows he fell, but he's not even sure.
COOKE's PREVIOUS PENALTIES FOR FOOT SLEW OR KNEEING
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 12:52 — abramsdougCooke is no stranger to suddenly finding himself unable to avoid kneeing another opponent or using the foot slew to injure an opposing player. In the past, the conduct resulted in penalties being assessed. How many times does one player have to use these illegal techniques before it is considered a pattern? The NHL will have to make that decision.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1At0FiXIo7Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbsI30L4VjE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NjbZpjhPLU
Matt Cooke = Bryan Marchment
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 14:27 — atrioneMatt Cooke = Bryan Marchment
I agree, although
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 14:42 — hockeyhickMarchment was actually tough. Dirty, but tough.
Seems like there's QUITE the pattern
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 13:59 — MichaelProctonCooke spots a player better than him, glides along with his legs splayed like he's riding a damned horse, and then turns his head at the last minute and flops to the ice after he's taken the real hockey player on the other team.
Big Surprise
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 12:51 — GoShelfWhat did we expect him to say - "the league and the refs screwed up, it was a dirty hit I put on him". Walker should speed bag that punk - of course we all know what would happen if Walker dropped the gloves with Cooke: Cooke would assume the turtle position. Cole should avoid playing in Mellon arena going forward, not a good history.
That's why...
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 12:33 — Pensin5a penalty wasn't called right? Oh wait, I forgot everyone is out to get the Canes including the refs.
Hey PenisN5...
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 12:53 — hockeyhickYour boy Cooke is a hack. A spineless coward with a history of cheapshots. He got away with one. Much like Scott Walker got away with one. Difference being, AT LEAST Walker was face-to-face with his opponent, not trying to take out a knee. Cooke is a sissy.
He needs to stop digging the
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 12:32 — figaroHe needs to stop digging the hole and move on. Players gotta hate having two whole days off between games - too much stuff to rehash.
Just like...
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 11:59 — dustinlammershe didn't mean to blind-side Walker and put him out with a concussion? Cooke has a history of taking liberties that result in injuries to opposing players...
Maybe some fresh legs on the 4th line can rejuvenate us in Game 2. Go Canes!!!
Quit trying to defend yourself.
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 11:58 — CanES12TG6It was a dirty hit which he is going to get away with. I highly doubt the NHL is going to do anything. Why does he keep talking about it? His version of how things happened are ridiculous. Cooke is a goon and that's what he does. It is what it is. Lets go Canes!!!
I suspect he keeps talking
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 12:16 — mbjI suspect he keeps talking about it because reporters keep asking him about it
Doesn't mean he has to respond.
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 12:22 — CanES12TG6Anyone who is not a Penguins homer knows it was a dirty hit. No matter what he says he is not going to be able to justify his actions.
if he didn't respond someone
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 15:26 — mbjif he didn't respond someone would lament "see even he can't defend himself" He was asked a question you can't attack him for answering it. I'm not talking about the hit, you want to criticize that, go ahead, but it's silly to criticize him for answering a question. Heck you can criticize him for the answer he give, but not for giving an answer.
He had already commented on the incident.
Wed, 05/20/2009 - 16:01 — CanES12TG6He had already commented after the game Monday night and said almost verbatim what he said today. That's why I was wondering why he wouldn't just keep his mouth shut about it. Does he think if he keeps saying the same thing over again that people will believe him? I'm going to criticize everything he says or does because he took out a player, that could be critical to whether we advance or not, on a dirty play. I just needed to vent, okay?