NEW YORK – Philadelphia Flyers forward Zac Rinaldo has been suspended for eight games, without pay, for charging and boarding Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang during NHL Game No. 684 in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Jan. 20, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.

The incident occurred at 15:36 of the first period. Rinaldo was assessed a major penalty for boarding and a game misconduct.

source: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=750355
Hit Can be seen here (no video on NHL site at time of posting): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7nr2UlQZxI


I'm usually one to say that the punishment is excessive or too lenient. Rarely do I actually agree with a suspensions duration. This however seems pretty clear cut. Letang had his head turned towards the boards and his back fully exposed to the ice. He had been that way for long enough that Rinaldo had the opportunity to avoid the boarding penalty. As Rinaldo is a repeat offender his suspension is extended and rightfully so.