Matt Suspended 4 games for Cooking.

So there it is. The hit that cost us another winger for 4 games. A hit that Cooke shouldn't of made, but shouldn't of been suspended 4 games for either. What is this the NFL where we pick on the Pittsburgh team for being too aggressive? It was a charging call, that Tyutin knew was coming, Bylsma even saw it in his eyes that he knew it was coming. Gets up uninjured and plays every subsequent shift.

Yet we're stuck without Cooke for 4 games. Add that onto a long list of Injury names and pretty soon one of us is going to be out there playing forward for the Penguins. Kunitz going down last night with his lower body injury, Asham being out, Testu, Crosby, Malkin on long term and now Cookie out for 4 games, leaves this team in terrible shape and puts even more of a daunting task on them to play .500 hockey down the stretch.

Cooke knows what he's doing, he knew what he did there, and he knew he caused even more trouble by starting a fight after the hit. He should of slowed up and not even taken the penalty. They spot each other before Cooke is even at the faceoff circles and they still collide and Cooke still leaves his feet to make the hit. A lot of time to dial down the speed, a lot of time to decide not to take the penalty, but the choices are made, and now he sits.

Ton's of people everywhere are screaming for Cooke's banishment from the frozen lands of the NHL. Others, mostly Penguins supporters, say that the suspension is too much for the penalty. No matter what side of the fence you sit on the fact remains, stupid penalty during a game full of stupid mistakes and short comings, leads to a suspension and even more detriment to the Penguins.

The clouds will clear and the sun will shine again soon on the Penguins, but can they survive until then?

Blue Jackets vs Penguins Recap Game 55. Ugh.

Well.

Where to start. Cooke hit that guy up there, then gets 5 minutes in the box for Cooking. Basically checking from behind, boarding, left his feet, it was bad play central. Story of the night for the Penguins. Series after series turnovers, not developing the plays or missed opportunities. The ones that did come weren't capitalized on, leaving many to question where the offense has gone. Part of that could of been the absence of Chris Kunitz who is now day to day with a lower body injury and did not start in this game. There is no word yet as to the extent of the injury to Kunitz.

It's hard to lose a game, but it's especially hard to lose a game against a team you've recently beaten 7-2, and resides in Columbus, Ohio, however if you don't capitalize on the opportunities you will not win the games. The plays were there but they just weren't making them and it doesn't look good for where the Penguins are headed.

Though all they have to do is play .500 hockey or better at this point to get into the playoffs, so what does a playoff team do to get ready for the playoffs? Well first and foremost the team needs to get healthy and the clouds surrounding Sidney Crosby need to dissipate. The team needs the spotlight lifted off of them and their roster for a little while too but until after the trade deadline and Crosby gets back it's unlikely that will change.

Columbus came out like they said they would, out for blood. Bit into the Penguins jugular and were it not for Tyler Kennedy's life-support goal in the 3rd period, the Penguins would of been left reeling after being shutout in back to back games.

Lovejoy fought early on in the game, if you could really call it a win for him, and took it down with a jersey pull. He took a lot of punches just standing there before he actually got to the pull down.

Eric Goddard fought in the third period and you can really get a look at his fist getting ready to impact face.

Still though, the energy wasn't there tonight. The crowd wasn't energetic from the start like in Columbus, and you could tell there is still a lot of gloom hanging over the heads of people in the Burgh', not to mention all across the globe if you're a fan of any shade of the black and gold.Fans need to keep their heads up though as the team is not out of the Cup chase and the season is not over.

Next game is against the Kings at home on Thursday. Bounce back and avoid that 3rd straight L.