Pens' Cooke suspended after McDonagh hit

The NHL Monday backed up its intent to punish players for illegal head shots, suspending Penguins winger Matt Cooke for 10 regular-season games and the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs after his blindside elbow to the face that felled Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh on Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh.

Penguins general manager Ray Shero, a vocal proponent of banning head shots, supported the decision, as did many players.

"The suspension is warranted because that's exactly the kind of hit we're trying to get out of the game," Shero said. "Head shots have no place in hockey. We've told Matt in no uncertain terms that this kind of action on the ice is unacceptable and cannot happen."

Cooke was assessed a five-minute elbowing penalty and a game misconduct for the blatant assault, which occurred at 4:36 of the third period in the Rangers' 5-2 victory. McDonagh returned to the game six minutes later but did not practice with the team Monday "as a precaution," Rangers coach John Tortorella said.

He declined to discuss the incident, saying, "That's for the league to decide."

At a hearing in Toronto, the league did.

"Mr. Cooke, a repeat offender, directly and unnecessarily targeted the head of an opponent who was in an unsuspecting and vulnerable position," NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell said. "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 will forfeit $219,512.20 in salary.

McDonagh, 21, who said after the game he "didn't see him coming at all," was examined by trainers and doctors and flew back to New York with the team. "He'll be fine," Tortorella said Monday, with the expectation that he will play Tuesday night against Florida at home as the Rangers seek their fifth straight win.

The suspension was Cooke's fourth in the past three seasons. His blindside hit on Bruins center Marc Savard in March 2010 triggered a severe concussion but no suspension; Savard tried to come back this season but was forced to the sideline. A check to the head of the Rangers' Artem Anisimov in November 2009 triggered a two-game suspension.

When McDonagh appeared to be close to normal after Sunday's game, Anisimov joked, "Welcome to the club." But he and other Rangers believed a significant suspension was in order.

Cooke's ill-advised action put the Penguins' organization, which bemoaned the hits that left captain Sidney Crosby with a concussion that has kept him out for two months, in no position to argue. Before the GM meetings last week, Mario Lemieux, the majority co-owner of the Penguins, sent a letter to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman proposing more discipline for repeat offenders and increased fines to teams. And Penguins coach Dan Bylsma condemned Cooke's play immediately after Sunday's game.