Subject :Once a career NHL agitator himself, Minnesota forward Matt Cooke can relate to what Patrick Kaleta i
Once a career NHL agitator himself, Minnesota forward Matt Cooke can relate to what Patrick Kaleta is going through this week and went so far as reach out to him after the Wilds game in Buffalo on Monday. Lawrence Taylor Jersey . "I told him, Ive been there, its not fun - Its hard," Cooke told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun on ESPN.com. "I laid it out there that if he wants to know what I did, Id gladly talk to him about it. He knows Pommer (former Sabre-turned-Wild forward Jason Pominville), so I told him `If you want to get hold of me, Im there to talk." Cooke, whos had his share of league discipline over a 15-year career, came back a changed player with the Pittsburgh Penguins after being suspended for the last 10 regular-season games and first round of the playoffs in 2010-11. And his advice for Kaleta is to try to do the same thing. "During my suspension, with either (Dan) Bylsma or (Tony) Granato, I probably watched about 30 or 40 hours of video; watching players that play a physical style," said Cooke. "The hours of video work I did seriously helped me," he added. "The work that I put in has helped me not only take the risky plays out but also become a more effective player. Ive got a way more active stick on the forecheck, and Im more aware of my surroundings which has helped me offensively." Kaleta was handed a 10-game suspension on Tuesday for an illegal check to the head of Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Jack Jackson, a decision that he, his agent and the NHL Players Association will appeal. Part of changing his game included dealing with adversity, as Cooke recalled an incident in the 2010-11 season when a player dove into the boards after he barely touched him. "My heart was racing," Cooke told LeBrun. "I thought I was getting suspended. But before I was even off the ice Brendan (Shanahan) had called (Penguins GM) Ray Shero to tell him he knew I didnt touch the guy. That re-assured me." And by Cookes own admission, hes still learning. "Its never going to be over for me, and I realize that, and Im fine with that," he said. "Right now I err on the side of caution. I still watch video to make re-assure that there are good times to go out and by physical. "Its just a read. If you dont change the way you visually see the game, then change is impossible." Case in point - Cooke leads the Wild in scoring with three goals and six points in seven games and has yet to pick up a penalty minute this season. "Theres a huge difference in the way I approach the game now," he explained. "The days of just going for the big hit, every time possible, is just not feasible. The way the game is played now, the speed of the game, and the way the kids are taught to play the game." Files from ESPN.com by TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun were used for this report. Phil McConkey Jersey . In the opener of the World Group first-round series, world No. 18 Kei Nishikori defeated Peter Polansky of Thornhill, Ont. Eli Manning Jersey .Cameron sustained his third concussion in three seasons last week on a hit by Oakland safety Brandion Ross, who was fined $22,050 by the NFL for the helmet-to-helmet blow.It will take the last game of the regular season to determine what seed the Toronto Raptors will be for the playoffs. The Raptors have to get through the pesky New York Knicks Wednesday at Madison Square Garden and can lock up the third spot in the Eastern Conference with a win or a Chicago loss in Charlotte. Listen to the game live on TSN Radio 1050 at 8pm et/5pm pt. Toronto will fall to the No. 4 spot if it loses and the Bulls top the Bobcats. In the postseason for the first time since 2007-08, the Atlantic Division- champion Raptors set a franchise record for wins with Mondays 110-100 victory versus the Milwaukee Bucks at Air Canada Centre. Greivis Vasquez started in place of DeMar DeRozan and made five 3-pointers en route to 25 points, while Kyle Lowry added 24 points for Toronto, which posted its team-best 48th win. DeMar DeRozan, who was held out of Mondays win over Milwaukee for rest, will return to the lineup. The previous record of 47 wins was achieved twice in 2000-01 and 2006-07. "I always have been ready for any opportunity since I got here," Vasquez said. "Im all about winning and they gave me a chance to start, and I want to help the team win and have a presence in games." Jonas Valanciunas recorded 14 points and 13 rebounds as the Raptors reached the 100-point mark for a seventh straight game. DeMar DeRozan, who was held out of Mondays win over Milwaukee for rest, will return to the lineup. His 22.8 scoring average is the highest since former Raptor and current Miami center Chris Bosh averaged 22.7 ppg in 2008-09. DeRozan is posting 24.2 points in the last six games. The Raptors have won nine of their last 11 games and will try to work on their 22-18 road record at MSG. They have won four of the lastt five road contests. Doug Kotar Jersey. New York spoiled Brooklyns chances of locking up the No. 5 seed in the East with Tuesdays 109-98 victory over the Nets at Barclays Center. With All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony shut down for the rest of the season with a shoulder issue, rookie Tim Hardaway, Jr. posted a team-best 16 points. Amare Stoudemire, J.R. Smith and Shannon Brown scored 14 points apiece, while Cole Aldrich ended with 13 points and 13 rebounds for the Knicks, who missed out on the eighth seed in the East. The Knicks have won three in a row and six of the last eight games. "You enjoy it more when youre in (the playoff hunt), when youre fighting for something." Smith said of the win. Meanwhile, an MRI on Anthonys shoulder revealed a small tear in the labrum of his right shoulder. The injury will not require surgery and he will be evaluated in a month. This could be Anthonys last season with the Knicks and he is a pending free agent. He will miss the playoffs for the first time in his career and averaged 27.4 ppg this season. Anthony could opt out of his contract this summer and test free agency. The Knicks, of course, hope to make some changes with Phil Jackson as the new team president and that could mean the departure of head coach Mike Woodson. Stoudemire is expected to sit Wednesdays game for the Knicks, who have an 18-22 record at home and will not participate in the postseason for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign. Toronto is 2-1 against New York this season and won the first meeting at Madison Square Garden 95-83 on Dec. 27. These two Atlantic Division inhabitants have split the last 10 games. Lowry is averaging 24.0 points, 8.0 assists and 4.7 rebounds in three games against the Knicks this season. Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys China NFL Cheap Jerseys ' ' '
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