Should Bruins retaliate against Penguins Thursday night?

BOSTON (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com) - Claude Julien called it a dirty hit, a classic blind side hit to the head. Matt Cooke’s filthy shot at Mark Savard has left the Bruins forward out indefinitely with a grade 2 concussion and still suffering sensitivity to light and dizziness. It’s also a hit that has left Savard’s teammates looking for retribution

Instead of punishing Cooke and putting an end to this, the NHL chose not to suspend the Penguins’ defenseman, which now leaves the Bruins to seek retribution Thursday night at the Garden.

The Bruins will host the Penguins and the NHL is clearly going to keep their eye on this game. The league’s VP of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell is expected to speak with both teams before the game, and the NHL has already assigned a veteran refereeing crew to work the game.

The Bruins are in a heated race for a playoff spot, sitting just three points up on the rangers for the 8th seed, and cannot afford to lose anymore players because of a suspension.

Whether the Bruins choose to instigate a few hockey fights with Cooke throughout the context of the game, or possibly do so to a premier player like Sidney Crosby, they need to show that a hit like the one put on Savard, will not be tolerated by this team or the organization.