Boston forward Zac Rinaldo will have a disciplinary hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety following his high hit on Tampa Bay’s Cedric Paquette on Sunday, the league has announced.
The hit, which occurred midway through the opening period, earned Rinaldo a two minute minor for an illegal check to the head. Paquette exited briefly but did return to finish with 12:30 TOI.
Rinaldo has a long and checkered history when it comes to questionable hits and supplemental discipline, so news of his hearing -- which will take place tomorrow -- doesn’t come as a huge surprise.
Though he’s managed to avoid suspension or fines this season, he received a hefty eight-game ban for charging/boarding Pittsburgh’s Kris Letang last season and, the season prior, was suspended four games for an illegal check to the head of then-Buffalo defenseman Chad Ruhwedel.