Like it or not, the Boston Bruins are as familiar with head shot-related injuries and suspensions as any team in the NHL. So although they weren’t involved in the play that resulted in a major suspension for Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke, the Bruins were asked to weigh in on the NHL-imposed penalty for Cooke’s blatant elbow to the head of New York Rangers forward Ryan McDonagh – the final 10 games of the regular season, plus the first round of playoffs. “The league is trying to make an example of anyone making head shots right now,” said rookie winger Brad Marchand, who should know – he played Tuesday night after completing a two-game suspension for his elbow to the head of R.J. Umberger of Columbus. “There are a few suspensions going on right now, and (Cooke’s elbow) was an opportunity to set in place what they’re trying to do, and they did it.” Cooke is as sore a subject as exists in the Bruins’ dressing room, for his blind-side check on Marc Savard last March 7 left Boston’s No. 1 center with a concussion from which he still hasn’t recovered. Cooke’s play spurred the league to adopt Rule 48, which calls for a major penalty and game misconduct for “a lateral or blind side hit to an opponent where the head is targeted and/or the principal point of contact.” Cooke continued to play recklessly. He was suspended for four games in February for hitting Fedor Tyutin of Columbus from behind and has now been suspended for the fourth time in his career. “The game is so fast, and decisions are made in split seconds,” said Devils goalie Martin Brodeur. “Sometimes if you don’t react well, you might stick an elbow or a shoulder into a guy’s head. You don’t mean it – but in this case, knowing the past of (Cooke), it’s kind of a given.” The length of suspension handed down by NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell didn’t surprise the Bruins. With stars like Savard and Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby sidelined by concussions, this month’s NHL General Managers Meetings focused heavily on preventing head injuries and getting tougher on the hits that can cause them. “I think that after the GM meetings they had, for sure they probably agreed on being more serious about consequences,” said Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, who was penalized, but not suspended when his check took Montreal’s Max Pacioretty into the glass and padded support between the benches earlier this month at the Bell Centre, leaving Pacioretty with head and neck injuries. After losing at least three players (Savard, Patrice Bergeron and ex-Bruin Andrew Alberts) to concussions on illegal hits, Boston has backed the NHL’s attempts to significantly reduce head shots. The B’s registered no complaints about the suspensions of Marchand and Daniel Paille, who served a four-game penalty for a Rule 48 violation. “You have to be supportive of what the league is trying to do,” head coach Claude Julien said. “If your players don’t respect the rules, there’s consequences.” NOT HNIDY’S NIGHT Defenseman Shane Hnidy, signed as an unrestricted free agent on Feb. 27, inched closer to making his second career debut as a Bruin: Hnidy, coming off major shoulder surgery, was positive he’d receive final medical clearance to play, and he’ll have spent the compulsory 24 days/10 games on Long Term Injury Reserve by the time the B’s host Montreal on Thursday night. “The last step is always the biggest one,” Hnidy said, “but it’s nice to know that now it’s just a matter of getting a chance to put me in, and getting that game experience again.” Julien, who already has seven healthy defensemen (Steven Kampfer has been scratched for the last two games), hasn’t said when Hnidy will play. “We brought him here to give us some depth,” Julien said. “If we’re going to use him as a depth player, at some point from here to the end he’s going to see some action.” SCHOLASTIC RECOGNITION Bruins assistant general manager Don Sweeney presented the 2011 John Carlton Award to two high school seniors with true hockey bloodlines: Matt Harlow of Bridgewater (Noble & Greenough), the son of former Boston College star Scott Harlow, and Alex Carpenter (Governor’s Academy), daughter of one-time Bruin (and Sweeney teammate) Bob Carpenter, were the 2011 recipients. Harlow is headed for Brown University; Carpenter for Boston College … Named as Boston Bruins Ice Hockey Sportsmanship Award winners were Stephen Whyte (Plymouth), Brian Sheeha (Brockton), Brian Ziegler (Stoughton), Dave Lyons (Scituate), Megan Noviello (Raynham), Catherine Chittick (Hingham) and Kayla Errasti of Duxbury

Like it or not, the Boston Bruins are so familiar with head injuries and suspensions, that shot as any team in the NHL.
So even if they are in the work that led to a significant suspension for the Pittsburgh Penguins forward Matt Cooke werent involved were the Bruins invited on the sentencing for NHL blatant elbow to the head Cooke's New York Rangers Ryan McDonagh C of the last 10 regular weigh-season games plus the first round of the playoffs. The league tried to do an example of someone headshots now make,  said rookie end Brad Marchand, who know C played Tuesday night after a two-game suspension for his elbow on the RJ Umberger to Columbus should head. There are suspensions right now happened, and (elbow Cooke) was an opportunity to implement what they are trying to do, and they have is it.Cooke so painful a subject like this in the locker room Bruins available from your paycheck blind side of Marc Savard last March 7 No one left the city of Boston with a concussion that has not yet recovered. Cookesp League has been forced to adopt Article 48, for a higher penalty and game misconduct for a blind side calls or beat a rival: the head is directed and / or the most important point contact.Cooke continue to play reckless. He was suspended for four games for hitting in February for Fedor Tyutin to Columbus from behind and was suspended for the fourth time in his career. The game is so fast and make decisions in a split second,  said Devils goalie Martin Brodeur. Sometimes when you do not respond well, you can hit an elbow or shoulder to the head guys. It does not mean that C, but in It know the past (Cooke), not the kind of essential online track by the Vice President of the NHL Hockey Operations Colin Campbell was the Bruins surprised. with stars like Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh and Savard stay issued by a concussion sidelined urged the NHL in This month, General Manager focused on the prevention of head injuries and cures all the successes that can cause them.
I think the GM meetings end they had to make sure that they probably agree to more serious consequences,  said Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, who was fined but not suspended, if the invoice Max Pacioretty of Montreal is in support of glass and attenuation between the banks earlier this month at the Bell Centre, so that wounds that Pacioretty with head and neck.
moved by the loss of at least three players (Savard, Patrice Bergeron and former Bruin Andrew Albert) for shocks in the illegal Boston has supported efforts to significantly reduce the NHL Head Shots. Buenos been no complaints about the suspension of Marchand and Daniel Paille, who was four games for violating Article 48 of the condemned.
You must be positive that the league tried to do,  coach Claude Julien. If your player does not sign the rules, theres consequences.NOT Hnidy NIGHTDefenseman Shane Hnidy, as a free agent on 27 February near his debut in the second Bruin career Hnidy comes from the shoulder major operation was positively received final approval to play hed care, and the hell have the 24 days / 10 games reserve consisted of long-term injuries, if Host B Montreal on Thursday night. The last step is always the greatest, Hnidy said, but it is good to know who is more a question of opportunity was afforded to enter and enjoy the game again. Julian, who already has seven health defenses (Steven Kampfer was scratched the last two games), Hnidy not say where he plays.
We have him here to give a certain depth,  said Julian. They wanted it as a depth player will eventually use between now and the end hes seen action.SCHOLASTIC recognition Bruins Assistant General Manager Don Sweeney gave John Carlton Award 2011 two high- School students with real lines hockey: Bridgewater Matt Harlow (Noble and Greenough), the son of former Boston College star Scott and Alex Harlow Carpenter (director of the Academy), daughter of a time Bruin (and teammate of Sweeney) Bob Carpenter of the 2011 receiver. Harlow is responsible for the Brown University, were carpenter named Boston College Boston Bruins Hockey Award-winner Stephen Whyte Ice Sports (Plymouth), Brian Sheehan (Brockton), Brian Ziegler (Stoughton), David Lyons (Scituate) Megan Novillo (Raynham), Catherine Chittick Errasti (Hingham) and Kayla Duxbury.