Zac Rinaldo may be the first player to be suspended in both the NHL and AHL at the same time.
Just days after being suspended for his illegal check to the head of Lightning forward Cedric Paquette, Rinaldo has now been suspended indefinitely for attempting to injure an opponent in an AHL game on Friday night.
Rinaldo received a match penalty for hitting Bridgeport’s Kane Lafranchise in the head during the second period of the game (above).
This was Rinaldo’s first AHL game since being demoted by the Bruins earlier this week. He can only start serving his NHL suspension once the Bruins recall him from the AHL.
Prior to Sunday’s incident with Paquette, Rinaldo had gone the entire season without being suspended or fined.
There’s still no word on how long the league will make him sit for this incident.
Zac Rinaldo suspended indefinitely pending league review of his match penalty for check to head on Friday night, per Bruce Cassidy. #AHL
— Mark Divver (@MarkDivver) March 5, 2016
LT. Under AHL rules, suspension is automatic for match penalties for intent to injure, which is what Rinaldo penalty was called for.
— Mark Divver (@MarkDivver) March 5, 2016