Bruins' Zac Rinaldo Suspended Five-Games for Dirty Hit

The National Hockey League's department of Player Safety has suspended Zac Rinaldo for this dirty hit on Tampa Bay Lightning forward Cedric Paquette. At the time of the hit, I was surprised that Rinaldo was only given a two-minute penalty. These are the types hits that hockey is trying to remove from the game of hockey.

NEW YORK - Boston Bruins forward Zac Rinaldo has been suspended for five games, without pay, for an illegal check to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning forward Cedric Paquette during NHL Game No. 933 in Boston on Sunday, Feb. 28, the National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety announced today.

Rinaldo is also a four-time, repeat offender that obviously hasn't learned his lesson. This past week, Rinaldo was put on waivers by the Boston Bruins and is now in Providence. For the most part, Rinaldo brings nothing to the table, except for penalty minutes and is a waste of a roster spot Rinaldo also adds little in the way of offense and has only scored. This season, Rinaldo has scored a meager (1g-2a—3pts) in 52 games.
 

Flyers Unhappy with Zac Rinaldo's hit on Sean Couturier

Looks like Zac Rinaldo is trying to out do Rafi Torres and Matt Cooke. I am not sure that's possible. He's giving his all. No, this hit wasn't clean. There's no defending it. Will there be a suspension, the NHL hasn't made a decision on the hit yet.

Correction here. NHL didn't made a final decision on #bruins Zac Rinaldo.

— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) October 22, 2015

As a Bruins fan, I was disappointed when the team Acquired Zac Rinaldo from the Philadelphia Flyers. In 228 games, Rinaldo has scored (8g-16a—24pts). The oft-suspended forward has racked up an amazing 582 minutes in penalties. That’s the equivalent of Rinaldo spending almost 10 games in the penalty box during his first five seasons in the NHL.

In today's NHL, players like Rinaldo are a dying breed, there's will be no room on NHL rosters for the one-dimensional players that racks up penalty minutes and receives long-term suspensions for bad behavior. These players will soon be gone in the NHL.

In his short five-year NHL career, Rinaldo has also been suspended 14 games.

Jan 26, 2015 Suspended by the NHL for 8 games.
Apr 07, 2014 Suspended by the NHL for 4 games.
Feb 13, 2012 Suspended by the NHL for 2 games.
Feb 04, 2012 Fined $5,000 by the NHL.

Obviously, the Flyers aren't happy with the hit in question.

Sam Carchidi, Philly.com --- As the first period ended, former Flyer Rinaldo, his elbows up high, leveled Sean Couturier into the boards. It took Couturier a few minutes to get up, and he woozily skated to the locker room.

He did not return after suffering what general manager Ron Hextall called an upper-body injury.

Rinaldo, who had a penchant for bad penalties when he played with the Flyers, was assessed a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He is expected to receive his fourth career suspension.

The Flyers head coach wasn't very pleased with Rinaldo's check on Couturier. From Philly.com Flyers coach Dave Hakstol was fuming about the hit. "No place for it," he said.

Zac Rinaldo Hit on Sean Couturier

Boston Bruins forward Zac Rinaldo was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for this hit on Philadelphia Flyers forward Sean Couturier. Needless to say, Rinaldo's first game against his old team only lasted on period and he played only 2:53 minutes.

I don't think that this hit is suspension worthy, but the league will definitely take a look at it. Couturier was not on the bench to start the second period.

Philadelphia Flyers: Zac Rinaldo has been suspended for eight games

View image | gettyimages.com

Zac Rinaldo is a reckless player and I was hoping that his suspension was going to be longer than eight games. To be honest with you, I was hoping that Rinaldo was going to be suspended for 10 games.

Do you think Rinaldo's suspension is long enough, or would you like it to be longers, too?

The Department of Players Safety has levied some stiff penalties in the last week. Chicago Blackhawks forward Daniel Carcillo was given a six-game suspension for cross-checking Winnipeg Jets forward Mathieu Perreault. Both players are repeat offenders. No this 8 game suspension for Rinaldo.

Philadelphia's Zac Rinaldo has been suspended for eight games for charging and boarding Pittsburgh's Kris Letang.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) January 27, 2015

Philadelphia's Zac Rinaldo has waived his right to an in-person hearing. A phone hearing will be conducted Monday afternoon.
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) January 22, 2015

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• Philadelphia Flyers: Forward Zac Rinaldo on his game misconduct(ndgoon.blogspot.com)

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Philadelphia Flyers: Forward Zac Rinaldo on his game misconduct

In the post-game media scrum, Zac Rinaldo said, "I changed the whole game."

I am going to predict that Zac Rinaldo will have the book thrown at him for his dirty hit on Kris Letang. I am going to say that he gets at least a 6-8 game suspension he deserves more. Rinaldo is a repeat offender so he "should" be suspended 10 games.

I didn't intend to hurt Kris tonight. I'm very sorry I did. At no point did I ever "joke" about such a thing. These reports are untrue.
— Zac Rinaldo (@RinaldoZac) January 21, 2015

* Zac Rinaldo - Supplemental Discipline History * #NHLonNBC #RivalryNight pic.twitter.com/hjP3eOb73v
— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) January 22, 2015

Flyers' Rinaldo to have hearing with the Department of Player Safety

Well this is going to be interesting. Zac Rinaldo is a repeat offender, and Chad Ruhwedel has a concussion from the hit. Spin that wheel of justice.

Mike Brehm, USA TODAY Sports -- Philadelphia Flyers tough guy Zac Rinaldo was thrown out of Sunday's game and could miss many more.

He will have a hearing on Monday after receiving a match penalty for intent to injure for an illegal check to the head of Buffalo Sabres defenseman Chad Ruhwedel during the third period of the 5-2 win.

Sabres coach Ted Nolan said after the game that Ruhwedel had a concussion.

(Video) Zac Rinaldo hit on Chad Ruhwedel

I have to say that there's going to be a review and a good chance that there might be suspension coming from the NHL's Department of Player Safety for this hit. Zac Rinaldo hits Chad Ruhwedel in the head. Thoughts on this one? Rinaldo is like a linebacker on skates.

Philadelphia Zac Rinaldo served by Jay Rosehill Match penalty - 10 min against Chad Ruhwedel

Joffrey Lupul's dirty hit to the head on Victor Hedman

This is an illegal hit to the head and a violation of rule 48. Toronto Maple Leafs forward Joffery Lupul is going to get a call from the Department of Player Safety and if he isn't suspended, I will be very surprised. Apparently, this isn't the first time that Victory Hedman has been hit with a questionable and dirty hit this week. Zac Rinaldo also caught Hedman with a very questionable hit earlier this week, but he was able to go tonight.

s/t  cjzero for the cool gif.

Ryan Carter knees Zac Rinaldo

The Devils forward Ryan Carter knees Flyers forward Zach Zac Rinaldo, who ironically, took runs at three different players on his trip up the ice, then gets hit in the knee with this hit by former Minnesota State Maverick Ryan Carter. Notice, no one comes to Zac Rinaldo aid, who in my opinion is a reckless player.

Zac Rinaldo hit on Dainius Zubrus

For what ever reason the Philadelphia Flyers were going after  Dainius Zubrus in this series and last night Flyers littled used forward Zach Rinaldo caught Zubras with this hit in the Flyers end of the ice, in my opinion this was a questionable and a border line hit, some might say that it was dirty.

Also, what the heck was Max Talbot doing in this video?

Personally, I seen worse hits that were dirtier in this years Stanley Cup Playoffs - but that doesn't make this hit any better. The Flyers are out of the playoffs, so I don't expect anything to come from this hit, Zubras also returned to the game.

Former NHL Official Kerry Fraser had to say this on the Rinaldo hit.

A bit of a pattern develops here when Zac Rinaldo took out Dainius Zubrus, another payback recipient, with a low bridge hip check (video link) just above the knees. While kneeing was initially reported on the call, interference appears on the official score sheet as Pierre Maguire of NBC correctly pointed out at the time. This was a needless and dirty play.  The puck was in the opposite corner of the rink as Zubrus cut around the net and was low bridged by Rinaldo. I can appreciate the fact that the refs would not want to put the game on the line by assessing a five-minute major penalty for clipping even though Zubrus appeared shaken up on the play and was attended to.

Will Lucic be suspended?

Bruins forward Milan Lucic has a hearing Monday for his hit on Flyers forward Zac Rinaldo, the big question is, will Lucic be suspended for his hit on Rinaldo. I would have to say, based on what I saw in a recent ruling by Brendan Shanahan; comparing Dion Phaneuf's hit on Zach Kassian and Milan Lucic's hit on Zac Rinaldo, I would say no, this hit was not as bad as that hit.

Related articles

• Milan Lucic hit on Zac RInaldo (mvn.com)
• Dion Phaneuf not suspened for hit on Zach Kassian (mvn.com)
• Dion Phaneuf plants Zack Kassian into the boards. (mvn.com)

Milan Lucic hit on Zac RInaldo

Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for this hit on Flyers forward Zac Rinaldo. In looking at the video, and watching the game, I don't think you will see a suspension to Milan Lucic.

The reason I say that I don't think that Lucic will be suspended is that last night Toronto Defenseman Dion Phaneuf  buried Buffalo Forward Zack Kassian into the boards and wasn't suspended. In my opinion that hit was worse than Lucic's hit on Rinaldo. So I don't see a this and there was no suspension given to Phaneuf.

I know that if Lucic isn’t suspended by the NHL we are going to hear the conspiracy theorist claim that the NHL is in bed with the Bruins because Colin Campbell’s son Gregory plays for the Boston Bruins, however, I don’t think this hit is suspension worthy.

After Milan Lucic's questionable hit on Flyers goon Zac Rinaldo, who has been in eight fights this season, goes after and challenges Bruins forward Nathan Horton to a fight. As a Bruins fan, I get a little worried  seeing one of the Bruins top six forwards, who has suffered a concussion in the past year, fighting an experienced fighter like Rinaldo. Rinaldo (1g-4a—5pts) is a cement head and is on the ice for one thing. Rinaldo is there to fight and cause havoc, you would think he should have challenged Lucic to the fight.

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• Dion Phaneuf plants Zack Kassian into the boards. (mvn.com)