Matt Cooke was quite focused at Scotiabank Place on Monday morning.

He was focused on that night's game against the Senators. He was focused on helping the Penguins track down the Blackhawks in the overall standings. He was focused on his job as a penalty killer and pest.

Then, after practice, he was focused on the humongous media scrum around his stall in the dressing room.

And he was focused on my package.

Cooke must have read the Ottawa Sun on his way to the rink because something in it clearly had him rattled. And I'm still not sure which part.

After listening to Cooke answer questions about the Feb. 13 incident in which his skate sliced 70% of the way through Erik Karlsson's Achilles tendon, I went to speak with other players in the room about different matters. Like every other reporter there. On the way out, I found Cooke waiting to have a word in private with me.

He wanted to tell me I have no balls. At first I think he said "small balls." But by the time he had finished, and knew Penguins GM Ray Shero was listening, he had decided I had none. Oh, and I believe he also mumbled something about me having no penis before disappearing into the players-only room, which I found interesting.

I will not take this opportunity to, ahem, brag about my manhood.

Cooke accused me of hiding behind the cameras, which is funny. In scrums that large, none of us scribes can get past the guys shooting video. Besides, what exactly would I be hiding from?

Cooke wanted to know why I didn't ask any questions. It's because I only had one, and somebody beat me to the punch. When Cooke held to his story that the Karlsson injury was a "complete freak accident," I'd heard enough.

Again, I don't think he was aiming for Karlsson's Achilles, but I've watched the replay many times and I'm convinced he was either trying to hurt the Senators best player or he was being careless enough with his boot blade to warrant a suspension.

Anyway, I've stated the opinion many times since the incident, and if that was what angered Cooke, well, he must also be pissed at a number of other people, because on this one, I am not a lone wolf.

My best guess is he was mad I pointed out in Monday's column he has averaged less than two fights per season in his NHL career, which isn't many for a guy that plays on the edge that he does. Maybe Cooke didn't like the way I put it -- that he has only settled scores like a man 20 times in his 14 years -- but again, I don't know.

Other than that, I believe I just reminded everyone this was the first meeting of the two teams since Cooke's Valentine's Day massacre on Karlsson's ankle. I didn't really think any Senators would exact revenge because of the game's importance, and that Cooke wouldn't let them, anyway. I was right.

On Cooke's first shift, with the crowd booing as soon as he hopped over the boards, Chris Neil skated directly to him with an invitation to fight. Naturally, Cooke declined. Before getting back to the bench, he drew an interference penalty on Eric Gryba, probably not so much because it was Cooke, but that the rookie defenceman forgot the rules.

At the whistle, Neil had another long chat with Cooke. And again, Cooke looked like he wanted to be elsewhere.

For much of game's remainder, the only time you remembered he was in the building was when the "Matt Cooke Sucks" chants came from the crowd -- or pretty much every time he was on the ice.

For the record, I kind of like Cooke, even if he isn't as effective as he used to be. He's controversial, which is a good thing. And yeah, he's dirty, but that just means he'll do anything to win. I only wish he'd answer for his actions the way real men who play his game do.

Maybe he should grow a set of his own before worrying about mine.

STARTS AND STOPS: Cory Conacher spent eight hours during Sunday's off-day in a car. He and his girlfriend drove to Toronto to see Conacher's little brother, Shane, who scored the Game 7 winner (and was named playoff MVP) as the St. Michael's Buzzers defeated the Newmarket Hurricanes 3-1 in the OJHL (Tier II) final. They came back when it was over. Soon to be 19, Shane is about to follow Little Train's footsteps to Canisius Collage. "He's better than I was at that age," said Little Train ... Whatever anger Neil had in him exploded all over Simon Despres in a second-period hit behind the net that shook the building ... Zack Smith is developing into a fine puck carrier, but it was the first-period pounding he gave Robert Bortuzzo, not his up ice rush, that had the crowd on its feet ... Doesn't happen often, but Sergei Gonchar had the hip check of the night on Jussi Jokinen ... Is there a more underrated player than Pascal Dupuis? ... Not sure how much better finishing eighth than ninth would be for the Senators. Four more games maybe?

Twitter: @SunDoniB