The Hammer Drops on Matt Cooke: 14-17 Games

Pittsburgh Penguins bad guy Matt Cooke had an in-person hearing in Toronto this afternoon and the league has ruled on his supplemental discipline for his elbow to the head of Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh during Sunday's game in Pittsburgh.

Per a Tweet from @RealKyper: #Pens Cook suspended by #NHL rest of regular season and 1st round of Stanley Cup play-offs.

It appears that the league did the right thing in the matter and dished out the punishment that most experts and pundits felt was appropriate. The Pens have ten regular season games left and will play between 4 and 7 in the playoffs.

During the game, Cooke received a five-minute penalty for elbowing as well as a game misconduct for his hit on McDonagh. Cooke has been suspended three times for hits to the head and got away with questionable hits several other times the most notable being his hit on Marc Savard last year where no supplemental discipline was assigned.

This is his second hearing of this season as he received a four game suspension from Colin Campbell for his hit on Columbus's Fedor Tyutin for a hit from behind.

Here is the official release from the NHL...

PENGUINS' COOKE SUSPENDED FOR REMAINDER OF REGULAR SEASON
AND FIRST ROUND OF STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

TORONTO (March 21, 2011) -- Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke has been
suspended for the remainder of the regular season (10 games) and the first round of the
Stanley Cup Playoffs for delivering an elbow to the head of New York Rangers defenseman
Ryan McDonagh in NHL game #1080 yesterday, the National Hockey League announced
today. Cooke will forfeit $219,512.20 in salary.

“Mr. Cooke, a repeat offender, directly and unnecessarily targeted the head of an
opponent who was in an unsuspecting and vulnerable position," said NHL Senior Executive
Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell. "This isn't the first time this season
that we have had to address dangerous behavior on the ice by Mr. Cooke, and his conduct
requires an appropriately harsh response."

Cooke’s most recent suspension was for four games on Feb. 9, 2011 and under the
terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement forfeits his salary based on the number of
games in the season (82), rather than the number of days (186). The money goes to the
Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

The incident occurred at 4:36 of the third period and Cooke was assessed a major
penalty for elbowing and a game misconduct.

Cooke will miss Pittsburgh’s remaining 10 regular-season games and be ineligible for
the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

More Later...

Buddy Oakes for PredsOntheGlass