Vacation post - 09-07-12
-Happy 34th birthday to current Penguins forward Matt Cooke (right). A free agent signing in the 2008 offseason, Cooke has spent the past three seasons with the Penguins. In 2008-09, Cooke appeared in 76 games, scored 31 points and recorded 101 penalty minutes, second-most on the team. During the postseason, Cooke appeared in all 24 of the Penguins' games, netted seven points and helped the franchise claim its third Stanley Cup title. Cooke played in 79 games in 2009-10, scored 30 points and was once again second with 106 penalty minutes. In the playoffs, Cooke saw action in 13 games and contributed six points. Cooke was limited to 67 games in 2010-11 due largely to suspensions and scored 30 points while leading the team with 129 penalty minutes. This past season, Cooke set career highs in games (82), goals (19) and points (38) while limited his penalty mintes to 44. He appeared in six postseason games this past spring and contributed four assists. In 304 regular season games with the Penguins, Cooke has scored 129 points, 65th-most in franchise history. In 43 postseason games with the franchise, Cooke has scored 17 points.
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-Happy 57th birthday to former Penguins defenseman Bryan Maxwell. Claimed off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets early in the 1983-84 season, Maxwell spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins. In 45 games for the Penguins in 1983-84, Maxwell recorded 15 points and led the team with a plus-3 rating. In 1984-85, Maxwell appeared in 44 games and netted eight assists. He retired following the season. In 89 games for the Penguins, Maxwell scored 23 points.
-Happy 52nd birthday to former Penguins forward Paul Marshall. A second-round pick in 1979, Marshall spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins. As a rookie in 1979-80, Marshall appeared in 46 games and contributed 21 points while leading the team with five game-winning goals. He appeared in one playoff game that spring and failed to record a point. After 13 games and three goals in 1980-81, Marshall was traded to the Maple Leafs along with Kim Davis in exchange for Dave Burrows and Paul Gardner. In 59 games with the Penguins, Marshall scored 24 points.
-Happy 49th birthday to former Penguins forward Tony Tanti (right). Acquired midway through the 1989-90 season along with Rod Buskas and Barry Pederson in a deal which sent Dave Capuano, Andrew McBain and Dan Quinn to the Canucks, Tanti spent parts of two seasons with the Penguins. He finished 1989-90 by appearing in 37 games for the Penguins and scoring 32 points. After 46 points and 18 points in 1990-91, Tanti was traded to the Sabres in exchange for Ken Priestlay. In 83 games for the Penguins, Tanti recorded 50 points. He currently operates a flooring contractor in Vancouver.
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(Photo: Jamie Sabau/Getty Images; Tanti-Penguins Hockey Cards)