Well I'm sure Jack Edwards' words also should have been taken differently instead of, you know, taking his words and applying their definitions to them.

As for the code, I'm of the assumption that if a player injures a key player to your team, intentionally or not, the player should be prepared to drop the gloves. Just my way of thinking, and I have done it in the past.
- jmatchett383

No, Jack Edwards' words were meant the way he said them. If not, then why offer an apology?

My experience with the Ottawa folks (at least the ones here) are that while they have their fair share of idiots, but for the most part they are an OK bunch. The Cooke thing is kind of an anomaly stirred up by their crackpot owner. I really need to get rich so I can just go around saying anything I want and just be referred to as "Eccentric".

Josh Yohe ‏@JoshYohe_Trib 1h
Fleury's wife about to have baby. Letang has food poisoning. Bennett day to say with upper body injury. All out tonight

Sheesh... no one is in tonight.

We get to see Eric Hartzell in a Pens uniform tonight (albeit on the bench).
- rival22

Time to go with the "B" team. Its kind of crazy when the "B" team includes Iginla.

It's not a code issue. It's not like he ran him from behind or a typical Cooke play. It was the freak result of a play that happens 100 times a game.
- Ben37

Key tonight is whether they will actually make runs at guys on the Penguins. If they do, you'd think the league will get involved. It's not like they're playing a week after the incident. It's a week before the playoffs. I say play hockey and go for 2 points. No need to garner suspensions. Having said that, if you're Bylsma and Shero, bringing up Mac was a good idea. Have to protect your guys.

He's a troll, he rarely posts in Johns sections.
- Ben37

Thankfully.

So how's the investigation going and when is it scheduled to be on CSI?
- acdc1206

We here in Ottawa have been getting daily updates from the investigation. Every day the forensic experts tell us all aboot the evidence they've discovered. After every game the radio show takes call ins and discuss the updates and where the investigation is heading. Because of our socialized medicare the whole weight of the Canadian government is being put behind this, even our PM is getting involved. The case is aboot to see a major break through.

Watch out Matt.

It's not a code issue. It's not like he ran him from behind or a typical Cooke play. It was the freak result of a play that happens 100 times a game.
- Ben37

So would you say that Tim Wallace as totally off base when he fought David Steckel in the first Pens-Caps game after the Winter Classic where Crosby was injured?

Josh Yohe ‏@JoshYohe_Trib 1h
Fleury's wife about to have baby. Letang has food poisoning. Bennett day to say with upper body injury. All out tonight

Sheesh... no one is in tonight.

We get to see Eric Hartzell in a Pens uniform tonight (albeit on the bench).
- rival22

No doubt Melnyk was involved.

Josh Yohe ‏@JoshYohe_Trib 1h
Fleury's wife about to have baby. Letang has food poisoning. Bennett day to say with upper body injury. All out tonight

Sheesh... no one is in tonight.

We get to see Eric Hartzell in a Pens uniform tonight (albeit on the bench).
- rival22

Sens need to take advantage of this then. Pens are still formidable, but the Sens need to forget about Cooke and just play their game. Maclean should be able to get that through to them. Just ask if they'd rather play the Pens or Caps.

This is way off topic, but I always thought Al jazeera was actually a well respected organization, with lots of good stories. Or is that not true?
- david22

You are correct. They are a pretty well respected, global news organization.

They get a huge stigma because of they are Arab based.

No, Jack Edwards' words were meant the way he said them. If not, then why offer an apology?
- Oneonta Penguin

And you were comparing Ottawa's newspaper to one viewed by religious extermists and terrorists as opposed to more local one (like the NY Post, as was done)...why? Just not sure why you went that far, kind of a (frank)ed up thing to say in my eyes.

We here in Ottawa have been getting daily updates from the investigation. Every day the forensic experts tell us all aboot the evidence they've discovered. After every game the radio show takes call ins and discuss the updates and where the investigation is heading. Because of our socialized medicare the whole weight of the Canadian government is being put behind this, even our PM is getting involved. The case is aboot to see a major break through.

Watch out Matt.
- david22

I do find it amazing that he is even skating let alone might be ready for the playoffs. I don't think anyone could have imagined that after hearing the severity of the injury.

We here in Ottawa have been getting daily updates from the investigation. Every day the forensic experts tell us all aboot the evidence they've discovered. After every game the radio show takes call ins and discuss the updates and where the investigation is heading. Because of our socialized medicare the whole weight of the Canadian government is being put behind this, even our PM is getting involved. The case is aboot to see a major break through.

Watch out Matt.
- david22

Oh, I'm sure he's aware of this

So would you say that Tim Wallace as totally off base when he fought David Steckel in the first Pens-Caps game after the Winter Classic where Crosby was injured?
- jmatchett383

I was more surprised that Steckel fought. For that one it depends on if you view it as intentional or not. I don't know if Steckel meant to hit him but some of the Penguins players thought he did. It all comes down to how you view it.

I honestly don't know how anyone who has ever played hockey with any amount of body checking/pinning can say that Cooke did that on purpose. Truthfully I find it kind of weird that we don't see more skate blade related injuries on people lower legs/feet judging from the condition of my skates alone.

Oh, I'm sure he's aware of this


- HopintheCordoba

I don't to spoil the surprise about what happens in regards to those signs tonight.

Alfie said Cooke means nothing tonight, its 2 points they want and that's the end of it. He said its media crap, Alfie means a lot more to the Sens team than the moron owner. I hope Cookie hits everything that moves tonight.

Cooke/Savard is 100% a different situation.

Sens need to take advantage of this then. Pens are still formidable, but the Sens need to forget about Cooke and just play their game. Maclean should be able to get that through to them. Just ask if they'd rather play the Pens or Caps.
- david22

Yeah I think that the Sens have to worry way more about getting two points than settling a perceived slight.

Sens need to take advantage of this then. Pens are still formidable, but the Sens need to forget about Cooke and just play their game. Maclean should be able to get that through to them. Just ask if they'd rather play the Pens or Caps.
- david22

You are right. Ottawa doesn't need to get into a chippy game. Chippy games could lead to additional injuries. With your injury situation, I'm not too sure you want to add a few more on the pile. Your head coach needs to tell your players to play and your owner needs to shut the frank up.

Alfie said Cooke means nothing tonight, its 2 points they want and that's the end of it. He said its media crap, Alfie means a lot more to the Sens team than the moron owner. I hope Cookie hits everything that moves tonight.

Cooke/Savard is 100% a different situation.
- nbartley9

This is something many people can't seem to figure out.

So would you say that Tim Wallace as totally off base when he fought David Steckel in the first Pens-Caps game after the Winter Classic where Crosby was injured?
- jmatchett383

It was just pointless, as a Cooke fight tonight be.

I understood Cooke fighting in Boston, because while the Savard hit was legal, it was still a dirty hit.

Regardless, I'm guessing Cooke fights tonight, just to put everything to bed. But I wouldn't fight Chris Neal. If I'm following "the code" and stepping up, it's going to be against someone else who will be following the code, and not doing stupid crap like punching when I'm down or when a linesman steps in, things that Neil will do.

No cause all the Sens fans complain when they lose
- Oilers4Life14

now, to be fair, oilers fans probably don't complain as much, but that's only because they've had 2 decades of mediocre hockey, it's allowed the fanbase to properly acclimatize to losing and disappointment

Here's the thing on the Cooke thing. Ok, I am a Sens fan.. totally admit it.

Have you guys ever seen a player 'fall' into a goalie? Happens all the time right? What happens after that? He generally still has the Dmen on top of him trying to get some punches in. While the guy may have simply fallen into the goalie, fans and players on the other team usually aren't that quick to give the guy the benefit of the doubt.

So, let's say for example that Jordan Tootoo comes barreling into the Pens goal and 'trips' into Fleury, knocking him out stone cold for the rest of the season. What would Pens fans think? There would be no way to prove that he did it on purpose, but, based on his history of malicious, dangerous and reckless plays, it would be extremely hard to give the guy the benefit of the doubt, right? Chances are, Pens fans would want a pens player to go and beat the crap out of him. If Tootoo declines the fight, Pens fans will be even more pissed and hope for retribution at the next game.

This incident is no different. While it's impossible to prove intent, the bottom line is that Cooke made an extremely reckless play - a play that has NEVER happened like that before - and the Sens best player missed the year because of it.

The night of the injury, if you asked hockey fans, after seeing Karlsson limping to the bench, which Pens player was going to come out of the corner, at least 50% would say 'Matt Cooke'. The other 50% would probably cover the rest of the entire team.

The bottom line is that Cooke should answer for what he did (just like my Tootoo example above), but it shouldn't be tonight. The game is far too important for the Sens to be screwing around. But the first shift of the first game they play next season, a sens fighter has to challenge Cooke. If Cooke turtles or skates away, then the Sens players should target Crosby and Malkin for the rest of the game. It's just that simple.

If Cooke can stand up for himself and take his 'medicine', then it should end there. If he decides to run and hide, then the Pens stars should have to answer. If Pens players and fans don't like it, then you shouldn't have that type of player on your team.

Oh, I'm sure he's aware of this


- HopintheCordoba

Kassasination?


Kassian needs to be more concerned about this nutjob than Cooke does of him.




The Pens have nothing to lose and have arguably their top 6 players out tonight. Ottawa would be wise not to get into a streetfight.

PS. No matter how may times I see this I will never understand how the dude in the last fight with Mac is on his feet at the end.

Kudos to him.

I don't to spoil the surprise about what happens in regards to those signs tonight.
- david22

Is Kassian even playing tonight? I thought I read that he stayed out late after the skate this morning.

Not to offend you personally, but a TON of Ottawa fans were saying exactly that.


You're right----everyone has their own opinion----but the story got beat like a dead horse for a few days and continued for a couple weeks. Most of the comments were from Ottawa, Boston and Philly fans.

Wonder why that is?

- HopintheCordoba

a lot of ottawa fans were pissed THAT NIGHT, but after getting over the shock of losing karlsson, regained some objectivity and saw the incident for what it was. the people who were in yost's blog complaining about it were mostly fans of other teams. the people who have kept this going are, in no particular order....melnyk, ottawa sun, fans of other teams, and a FEW sens fans.