Matt Cooke Suffers One-Punch Knockout by Evander Kane

The theory that no one gets hurt in NHL fights has been wrong and out-dated for a long time.

The latest example occurred Saturday night, when Evander Kane of the Atlanta Thrashers knocked out Pittsburgh Penguins agitator Matt Cooke cold. Kane destroyed Cooke with his first punch, a right that landed flush on Cooke's face.

Thanks to Kane holding on to Cooke's jersey for leverage in the fight, Cooke landed softly on the ice. The linesmen immediately called for the Penguins' trainers, who tended to Cooke before a stretcher was brought on to the ice.

Upon seeing the stretcher, Cooke waved it off and skated to the Penguins locker room at Philips Arena under his own power.

Cooke is a third line forward who has become a controversial figure around the NHL for his borderline and over-the-line hits. The most recent was a blind-side shot that sidelined Boston center Marc Savard with a serious concussion, a hit that motivated the NHL to create a new rule on hits to the head.

The Penguins, who play their season finale on Sunday on Long Island before beginning defense of the Stanley Cup, said Cooke would be out of the rest of Saturday's game for precautionary reasons.

Hot on HuffPost:

Matt Cooke Suffers One-Punch Knockout by Evander Kane

Hot Leads

ON FACEBOOK

News From Our Partners

Also on AOL >>>

Depp's Dames

Alicia's Evolution

Lip-Sync Fun

They Hooked You

Hot on HuffPost:

Matt Cooke Suffers One-Punch Knockout by Evander Kane

Hot Leads

HuffPost AOL Social News Most Popular

ON FACEBOOK

News From Our Partners

Also on AOL >>>

Depp's Dames

Alicia's Evolution

Lip-Sync Fun

They Hooked You