Zac Rinaldo said he was simply taking matters into his hands when he punched Penguins defenseman Zbynek Michalek in the face on Wednesday, and that's apparently good enough for the NHL.
According to Josh Yohe of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Rinaldo will not face any supplemental discipline from the NHL for this exchange with Michalek late in the second period of Pittsburgh's 10-3 win.
As you can see from the video, Rinaldo not only cross-checks Michalek, he then gives him a punch to the face as the defenseman is on the ice.
Rinaldo was given a two-minute minor for cross-checking, a two-minute minor for roughing, a 10-minute misconduct and a game misconduct.
When asked if he had any regrets about what he did, Rinaldo said "It was already 9-3. I don't regret doing it. It's my emotions. I wear my heart on my sleeve. I was really frustrated that we were getting blown out of the water, 9-3, so I took matters into my own hands."
He also added, via Shelly Anderson of the Post-Gazette, that Michalek did nothing prior to the incident.
And here we thought the NHL was about to get serious with discipline again.
For more hockey news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnHockey and @agretz on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
According to Josh Yohe of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, Rinaldo will not face any supplemental discipline from the NHL for this exchange with Michalek late in the second period of Pittsburgh's 10-3 win.
As you can see from the video, Rinaldo not only cross-checks Michalek, he then gives him a punch to the face as the defenseman is on the ice.
Rinaldo was given a two-minute minor for cross-checking, a two-minute minor for roughing, a 10-minute misconduct and a game misconduct.
When asked if he had any regrets about what he did, Rinaldo said "It was already 9-3. I don't regret doing it. It's my emotions. I wear my heart on my sleeve. I was really frustrated that we were getting blown out of the water, 9-3, so I took matters into my own hands."
He also added, via Shelly Anderson of the Post-Gazette, that Michalek did nothing prior to the incident.
And here we thought the NHL was about to get serious with discipline again.
For more hockey news, rumors and analysis, follow @EyeOnHockey and @agretz on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
