Monday, 05 November 2012 12:33

Written by Dave Molinari

Matt Cooke showed up for the Penguins' player-organized workout at Southpointe today with a large Band-Aid on his forehead.

Right where a chunk of his skin used to be.

At least until teammate Sidney Crosby inadvertently took a divot out of Cooke's forehead with his stick during a drill last Friday.

Cooke heaved his stick when he was injured, then adjourned to the locker room for some first aid before seeking more advanced medical attention.

Today, Cooke clarified a few of the events that followed his departure from the ice.

No, he said, he didn't heave his stick because he was angry with Crosby.

And no, he said, contrary to the story that made the rounds in the hours that followed, Crosby was of no value in dealing with his injury.

"I threw my stick more at the situation than anything," Cooke said. "We're out here trying to stay in shape so that when we do have a season, we're ready to go. Unfortunately, I got (injured by) a stick.

"I wasn't upset at Sid at all, but I should correct previous reports in the paper that he had anything to do with aiding or fixing the cut, because he did absolutely nothing except laugh in the room."

Crosby insisted that Cooke "was pretty upset with me on the ice," but agreed with Cooke's version of events once they were in the locker room.

"I saw it was his forehead – there was a good little chunk out of it – but I knew it wasn't his eye or anything," Crosby said. "So we had a good chuckle."