Philadelphia Flyers forward Zac Rinaldo suspended over hit on Detroit Red Wings' Jonathan Ericsson – NHL News
The National Hockey League (NHL) has confirmed suspension of Philadelphia Flyers forward, Zac Rinaldo, over his foul in their game against Detroit Red Wings.
The player has been handed down the two games ban by the league office and will be eligible to return to play for his side on February 21, 2012, after serving his penalty during the next two contests of his team due this week.
Rinaldo was found in contravention of the league’s safety rules by launching a hit on the Detroit Red Wings defenseman, Jonathan Ericsson, in their game on Sunday, February 12, 2012.
No major problem have been reported to the Red Wings player but the league office announced on Monday to have banned the Flyers forward for two games on their assessment of the hit, which according to the office was found in violation of the rules.
Brendan Shanahan, the league’s disciplinarian, said that Rinaldo was fine in his approach towards his opposition’s player until he leaped forward in front of him launching the hit and the player was found falling well within the violation and therefore was
handed down the penalty.
"Although Ericsson should have been more aware and prepared to face an oncoming check after reversing the puck, that doesn't allow Rinaldo to launch himself to deliver such a high hit," Shanahan said. "By doing so, Rinaldo turned what might have been a hard
legal body check into an illegal charge."
His target was lucky to have escaped the possibility of an injury and continued playing for his side throughout the entire game, which finally the won with the score margin of 4 to 3 goals. This was a record victory for Red Wings who having won 20th successive
game at their home ground set a league record of perfect home run. No other team in the NHL has achieved this feat so far.
This did not provide any chance to Rinaldo to avoid the possibility of a penalty, and following its review of his play, the league office banned the player for next two games.
This is second time that Rinaldo has come under the scrutiny radar of the league office. He had been fined twice by the league office for a slew footing infraction and a late hit in their game against the New Jersey Devils a couple of weeks ago.
He was asked to pay an amount of $5000 in fine and his latest two-game suspension is estimated to cost him $5,885, a costly of choice for him to go rough in his play, which might leave some lessons for him to learn and at the end he avoids the possibility
of committing same foul in the future.
It is to be seen yet if he is disciplined by the punishment.
Tags: