I can’t disagree with you David, both were questionable.  However, I think you’d also agree that there were numerous non-calls that probably should have been penalties on both teams…. After the penalty that Satan eventually scored after, the refs pretty much put the whistles away….

Posted by Tony F from Virginia Beach, VA on 05/19/09 at 07:34 PM ET

Absolutely, Tony.  I’ve been disgusted with the officiating throughout the playoffs.  For the Canes games anyway, it’s been the same all postseason long.  Blow the whistles early, let them play late. 
As a matter of fact, I just participated in a “radio” talk show panel where one of the points I raised was exactly what you said.  I don’t necessarily want the game to be called uber-tight, but it can’t be as loose as it was in game one.

Posted by David Lee from Greensboro, NC on 05/19/09 at 07:44 PM ET

I said in another post that hits like Cooke’s in particular invite retribution.  There are many ways to play dirty in a hockey game or series, and dirty play invites dirty play.  By the league doing nothing they are essentially inviting that Frontier Justice you mention.

Posted by dip on 05/19/09 at 08:31 PM ET

Why don’t you call Cooke a dirty player? Because he is you know. Perhaps not as bad as Ott, Morrow or Avery but still, might as well call a spade a spade.

Posted by Sideshow Bob on 05/19/09 at 08:38 PM ET

This is what I hate about this more than anything,now everyone wants to blame the refs for their teams faults. The refs might miss a call or even make a mistake but I beleive there is absolutly NO bias in the officiating. the players know how a certain game is going to be called early on so they can pretty much figure it out and play from there. And the precedent was set with Ovechin for the rest rest of the playoffs, can’t start suspensions for knee on knee hits now.

Posted by Lindas1st on 05/19/09 at 09:22 PM ET

The officials and the league got it wrong with Ovechkin v Gonchar, and they have gotten it wrong with LaRose v Savard.  I’m not calling LaRose a dirty player, but the play was very dangerous and it resulted in an injury.  If they don’t tighten up their officiating and disciplinary standards, things could get really ugly.  Frontier justice is not a pretty thing.

FTFY.  Raleigh doesn’t likely advance if Savard was healthy.

Posted by Bill from St. Albans, VT on 05/19/09 at 11:42 PM ET

Cooke has a reputation as a dirty player/wild hitter, but lets face it, nobody wants a knee to knee hit. The potential damage to both players is huge. They usually happen when someone dodges a check. That is what happened to Gonchar, that is what happened to Cole. I hate to see it happen to any player, but it is what it is.

As for Mark Eaton, he is the last guy to do something dirty, especially after missing most of the 06-07 season after a horrible slew foot from Jonathan Cheechoo. It might have happened, but I am sure it wasn’t intentional.

Posted by EnsErmac from Pittsburgh,PA on 05/19/09 at 11:52 PM ET

I agree that the league got it wrong on both hits, but I think this was even more deserving of a suspension than the OV one, and thats coming from a Pens fan. It just seemed dirtier than OV’s, and coming from Cooke, it probably was.

My only concern is that a Canes player decides to get some payback on one of the Pens skill players rather than Cooke.  The last thing the Pens need is someone doing a similar hit on Sid, Geno, or even Gonchar again, but hey, Cooke should have thought about that before he hit Cole.

Posted by Kstewy16 on 05/20/09 at 12:50 AM ET

OK, David if you want call Cooke a dirty player…I will!  And I’m a Pens fan.

The league set the precedent with the various non-suspensions this playoff season.  You basically have to be a 4th line slug to warrant a suspension, especially at this stage of the playoffs.

I look forward to see some of Carolina’s depth players step up.

Posted by DigitalGypsy66 on 05/20/09 at 09:26 AM ET