Matt Cooke faces hearing, possible suspension for damaging knee-on-knee hit
Matt Cooke will have the opportunity for an in-person hearing with the NHL after the Minnesota Wild forward knocked Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie out of Monday night’s Stanley Cup playoff game with a knee-on-knee hit, the league announced.
The hearing is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The NHL is considering supplemental discipline strictly for the kneeing, but the Department of Player Safety can change the infraction after reviewing the incident.
During the second period of Monday night’s game, Cooke collided with Barrie in the neutral zone, delivering a direct hit to Barrie’s knee in the process. The 22-year-old blueliner laid on the ice for several moments before leaving the game.
Cooke has been suspended six times by the NHL, and that history will be considered in the decision on games lost. Because his last infraction was more than 18 months ago, though, Cooke won’t be considered a “repeat offender” when it comes to a monetary fine from the NHL.
Barrie suffered an MCL injury on the hit and will miss four to six weeks.
Check out the hit in the video below . . .
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