Penguins Notebook: Cooke trying to reach Bruins' Savard
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Bruins forward Marc Savard lays on the ice after taking a hit by Penguins forward Matt Cooke in the third period of Sunday's game.
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Penguins left winger Matt Cooke has "reached out" to Boston center Marc Savard, according to Penguins coach Dan Bylsma.
Odds are the NHL office will do likewise with Cooke soon.
Savard was injured Sunday with a hit to the head by Cooke late in the Penguins' 2-1 victory against the Bruins at Mellon Arena.
Bylsma said Monday that the Penguins had not yet heard from the league about a hearing for Cooke, but "we know they're looking at all [questionable] hits and situations, so we know they're looking at it."
Savard, who got a Grade 2 concussion when Cooke hit him on the right side of the head with his upper left arm or shoulder, flew back to Boston Monday and told the Boston Herald he was experiencing intense headaches and severe fatigue and didn't know when he might be able to resume playing.
Cooke did not participate in an optional practice Monday at Southpointe nor did he speak with reporters when it ended, but Bylsma said Cooke tried to contact Savard.
"I know Matt Cooke has reached out to him," Bylsma said.
He did not elaborate on the precise message Cooke had wanted to deliver.
Bylsma said he did not see the hit as it happened and had not viewed a replay before meeting with reporters after the game Sunday, but he subsequently did watch a replay and offered this assessment:
"I think Matt Cooke's coming back with the intention of breaking up a good scoring chance by one of their players. The unfortunate part is that a guy gets hurt and goes down on the ice. That's not a situation anyone wants to see. It doesn't matter what color uniform he's wearing."
If the NHL decides to suspend Cooke, it could be done anytime before the Penguins' next game, which is Thursday night at Carolina.
Right winger Bill Guerin, who missed the past three games because of back spasms, practiced Monday and reported no problem.
First Published March 9, 2010 12:00 am
