Zac Rinaldo Suspended Five Games For Hit On Cedric Paquette
By Michael Hurley, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- When the Boston Bruins traded a third-round pick for Zac Rinaldo back in late June, it became only a question of "when" not "if" the forward would get himself suspended.
On Tuesday, the answer came: March 1.
The NHL department of player safety ruled to suspend Rinaldo for five games for his hit on Tampa Bay's Cedric Paquette on Sunday night in Boston.
"As Paquette cycles along the end boards toward the corner, Rinaldo steps down from his defensive position and delivers a high hit, making [Paquette's] head the main point of contact on a hit where such head contact is avoidable," the NHL department of player safety said in the video explaining the punishment. "While we accept Rinaldo's argument that he is attempting to deliver a legal, full-body check on this play, Rinaldo mistimes the hit, leading to him taking an angle of approach that makes Paquette's head the main point of contact."
Rinaldo has been suspended three times by the NHL before, and he's classified as a repeat offender by the department of player safety.
Earlier this season, the department of player safety reviewed a hit by Rinaldo which came against his former team, the Philadelphia Flyers. Ultimately, the department of player safety ruled that the hit did not warrant supplemental discipline.
The 25-year-old forward cleared waivers on Sunday and after no team claimed him, he was sent to Providence. In 52 games this season, he has one goal and two assists. He leads the team with 83 penalty minutes despite ranking 22nd on the team in time on ice.
