Flyers' Zac Rinaldo suspended eight games for hit on Pens' Kris Letang
The NHL has suspended Philadelphia Flyers forward Zac Rinaldo eight games for charging and boarding Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, the league announced Monday.
The hit occurred in the first period of the game between the two teams last Tuesday. Rinaldo was assessed a two-minute minor penalty for cross-checking, a five-minute major penalty for boarding and a 10-minute game misconduct. He waived his right to an in-person hearing with the NHL last week.
Letang missed the Penguins' next game but said he passed all concussion tests and is optimistic of playing Tuesday against the Winnipeg Jets, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Rinaldo, 24, was suspended twice last season for a total of six games. He's totaled 75 penalty minutes in 36 games this season and has recorded a plus/minus of minus-seven.
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The Flyers are 19-22-7 this year and in fifth place in the Metropolitan Division, while the Penguins are 26-12-8 and in second place.
- Ben Estes