The Pittsburgh Penguins’ erratic, volatile enforcer Matt Cooke will decide Game 2 between the Penguins and Ottawa Senators.
Let me clarify that: His play probably will have nothing to do with the outcome of the game. In seven playoff games, Cooke has yet to earn a goal or assist.
It is everything else he brings to the ice that the Senators must somehow find a way to neutralize. Cooke gives Pittsburgh the muscles, grit and fearlessness a team with its eyes on the Stanley Cup needs.
Even though he does not produce much in the way of tangible numbers, Cooke has a plus-four rating in the playoffs while he is on the ice. He makes the Penguins become much more dangerous in ways traditional statistics cannot quantify.
Oh yeah, and the entire city of Ottawa hates him.
It all started in February during a routine matchup between the Penguins and Senators. The blade of Cooke’s skate cut the Achilles tendon of Ottawa defenseman Erik Karlsson, ending his season.
Ottawa fans believe that Cooke intentionally took out Karlsson and have yet to forgive him. In fact, the Red Scarf Un ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Joshua Axelrod
Penguins vs. Senators: Matt Cooke a Player to Watch out for in Game 2
May 17th, 2013 by Joshua Axelrod Leave a reply »
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