"I won't dig too much into that other than that's a huge loss for us on a complete non-hockey play that didn't have to take place," an irritated Cooper told reporters following the team's morning skate at Chicago's United Center on Monday.
Palat had recorded points in four-consecutive games entering the Minnesota contest and was one-third of the team's top defensive line, often drawing the assignment of shutting down the opposition's best scorers. He tallied eight goals and 22 assists through the first 46 games of the season.
But he'll miss his first game tonight when the Lightning try to end their slide in Chicago against the Blackhawks. And he's out for the foreseeable future.
"He's not with us," Cooper said. "He had to go get re-evaluated. Put it this way: He's not playing in the three games leading up to the All-Star break. After that, who knows what it's going to be after that."
Palat's injury is the latest in a string of bad luck for the Lightning, who lost Victor Hedman in the game before their bye week January 11 and won't get him back for another two to five weeks.
"We've lost guys before and been able to find our way," Cooper said. "Guys get hurt in this game, I just didn't like the way (Palat) got hurt."
With some holes to fill at the forward spot as a result, the Lightning recalled Matthew Peca and Michael Bournival from their American Hockey League affiliate in Syracuse on Sunday. Both forwards will draw into the lineup tonight according to Cooper.
Peca was selected for his first AHL All-Star Game earlier this season and currently leads the Crunch for scoring with 31 points on eight goals and 23 assists.
"You just like watching guys grow," Cooper said. "They almost become your kids in a way to watch them go from rookie camp to development camp to rookies and then their times in the minors…Yanni Gourde, he went through that same path, and now to watch Peca come up and you like to see these guys, their growth in the American League, have they taken a step forward and each year Peca's taken a step forward. He's earned his chance to be here and looking for big things from him."
Peca said he hopes to bring a lot of energy and speed to the game tonight against Chicago while playing solid defense and winning important face-off draws.
As he was one of the Lightning's last cuts from training camp and had been playing well in Syracuse, Peca expected to get called up to the NHL at some point this season, he just wasn't sure when that chance would arrive.
Now it's here, and he's prepared to capitalize.
"You've just got to be patient," Peca said. "It's one of those things where these guys are having such a good year that you've got to wait for injuries. It's a weird feeling to have but it's not something you're really thinking about. We're just focusing on playing our game at Syracuse, and if the time comes where they need us, we'll be ready."
Bournival has put up surprising offensive numbers in Syracuse so far this season, scoring 13 goals, second most on the Crunch, and 27 points. He said part of that success stems from getting more time on the power play, which has translated into more confidence offensively. It's also a result of the impact he had with Tampa Bay last season when he was called up for 19 games and was able to bring a spark to the Lightning lineup.
"I just want to bring my speed and my energy on the forecheck to help the team get momentum from that," Bournival said. "I think last year we had success by forechecking the other team and playing physical. That's how we create chances and bring more intensity to the team."
The Lightning will need that energy as they deal with yet another blow during a stretch of the season where it seems they just can't catch a break.
