Colorado Avalanche defenseman Tyson Barrie, right, leaves the ice after getting injured on a hit by Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Cooke during the second period of Game 3 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series in St. Paul, Minn., Monday, April 21, 2014. The Wild won 1-0 in overtime. (AP Photo/Ann Heisenfelt)
April 23, 2014 - 6:28 PM
ST. PAUL, Minn. - Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Cooke has been suspended for seven games by the NHL for a knee-to-knee hit that injured Colorado Avalanche defenceman Tyson Barrie.
Cooke was at the league office in New York on Wednesday for a hearing about the incident, and his punishment was announced about eight hours later.
The Avalanche lead 2-1 with Game 4 set for Thursday night, so Cooke will be out for the series and more. He played a key part in Game 3 for the Wild in quieting Avalanche stars Nathan MacKinnon, Paul Stastny and Gabe Landeskog. Cooke was given a minor penalty for clipping Barrie, who will need four to six weeks to recover from a medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee.
News from © The Associated Press, 2014