Zac Rinaldo not fazed by Lightning complaints
Zac Rinaldo has drawn the ire of the outspoken Tampa Bay Lightning, who made their displeasure clear after Rinaldo knocked two of their players out of Monday's game.
Zac Rinaldo not fazed by Lightning complaints
Frank Seravalli
Zac Rinaldo has drawn the ire of the outspoken Tampa Bay Lightning, who made their displeasure clear after Rinaldo knocked two of their players out of Monday’s game.
Rinaldo, one of the Flyers' most consistent players recently, said Friday he hadn't read Tampa Bay’s comments.
“I don’t pay attention to what other people say,” Rinaldo said. “It doesn’t bother me at all.”
Rinaldo’s clean hit in the neutral zone on Ryan Malone injured Malone’s shoulder, which could require surgery. Malone was already placed on injured reserve. Another hit on Victor Hedman knocked him out of the game, though it was just as a precaution, since Hedman played on Wednesday in Toronto.
Rinaldo has kept his nose clean this season. He has not been suspended and he has drawn more penalties than he has taken. Rinaldo leads the NHL with 32.88 hits per 60 minutes; he's got 114 hits in 207:57 of total ice time. It's important to note that Rinaldo did not have a disciplinary hearing on either of the hits.
Tampa Bay’s B.J. Crombeen said he asked Rinaldo to fight in the third period on Monday to answer for his hits, but said Rinaldo declined. The two fought on Feb. 5 in Philadelphia, when Crombeen complained that Rinaldo had gotten in extra punches while Crombeen was on his knees.
“Obviously, when he’s hurting players you want him to be accountable for his actions," Crombeen told the Tampa Bay Times. "There’s always a time and place for it. It will come. You just have to wait for it.”
Forward Pierre-Cedric Labrie also traded verbal shots with Rinaldo during the game.
“He’s actually a good hitter,” Labrie said. “It’s just that sometimes he doesn’t think. At some point he has to pay for his bad behavior.”
If the Lightning are going to try and make Rinaldo pay, they’ll have to wait until next season. The two teams closed out this season’s series on Monday.
For the latest updates, follow Frank Seravalli on Twitter: @DNFlyers
The two fought on Feb. 5 in Philadelphia, when Crombeen complained that Rinaldo had gotten in extra punches while Crombeen was on his knees. hahahaha. Then don't get knocked down, tough guy.— scootch- Haha i was thinking the same thing
— furio - That loosely translates into "Stop hitting us so hard." That's just laughably embarrassing. If I were Malone and Hedman I'd be hot at my teammates for implying they're sissies and can't play big boy hockey. By the way....wasn't that Feb 5 tilt the same one where Lecavalier fought Talbot and basically stood over him after the fight and then reach down to punch him again? Note to the Lightning: Don't fight the guy who doesn't give a $#*% about his own well being.
- I wanted to contribute to this discussion, but I couldn't possibly top your first sentence. Sums it up perfectly. — sklandog
- For what its worth, Rinaldo should have given Crombeen his shot at redemption...another unwritten code of enforcers...plus, the team could have used it. With that said, I love Zac's game, but there are certain things you just need to do to stay respectful...You don't have to agree, but its the way it is.— philly thug
- Zack hits were clean the crying players on Tampa are just that crying. Could Zack of dropped the gloves with Crombeen yes but why he has already clean his clock once why do it again just because this guy thinks he wants to get his clocked clean again? Sometime it is not worth the fight. Crombeen need to understand if you not not good enoguh to fight when why should a player waste their time to fight you? Zack has donewhat he has been asked to do by the coaching staff to draw penalties and only fight when he really needs to. So far it has worked for Zack and he is playing better and helping his team more.— srcdaddy1216
- Hits were clean. Malone twice as big as him. Lightning are soft. Its just a shame Rinaldo is one of the few flyers that play with any fire. This team is an embarrassment. I feel bad for coach. Homer gave him an awful roster void of offensive talent. Team lacks leadership throughout. I have had enough of Homer. Time for a GM that is not tied to the Flyers past. They don't miss Jagr at all. Schenn and Courterier are nice complimentary players, nothing more. They are not the stars the Flyers think they are. GM needs to go, unfortunately that won't happen but the coach will be canned at the end of the year. GOOD WORKER HOMER MAYBE TRADE FOR ANOTHER MUCKER BEFORE THE DEADLINE. IDIOT— rutgersrah
- If the hits are clean you should just tip your helmet, get back up and finish your shift. Every player gets hit in a physical game like hockey, so why complain if it's clean? Nothing worse then a p^$$y crying about it.— WBFO
- Well they could meet in the playoffs. Oh, nevermind.— burholme
- If the hits are clean then quit crying. Even if its on a star player. If its clean its clean!— jrBomber
- "Rinaldo, one of the Flyers' most consistent players recently"
He has 3 goals and 1 assist and is -4 /- in 28 games. Is someone kidding? Seriously. Are Flyers fans and management that pathetic? Seriously?— Mortimer G Fingenfinderstein III - I'd like to know if you seriously think that Zac Rinaldo is in the NHL because he's a goal scorer/point getter??? No, he's an "energy guy." which means that he goes out, gets in fights, draws penalties, and throws his body. He's performed his role tremendously. — ZeusCash
- We need guys who can score not "energy guys" so no he should not be in the NHL. Wake up and realize that the flyers have to start drafting foreign players and not these good old Canadian boys who muck and grind. You need skill, speed and hitting not just hitting and fighting. Man I wish flyers fans would wake up and stop living in the 70's — jbainum
- First of all we have guys who can score there just not producing the way they should. That comes down to the captain giroux and the coach to get the players going. as for rinaldo every team needs an energy guy and a guy who can defend your teamates but can also play. when rinaldo plays he doesnt hurt us like shelly did. Im tired of stop living in the 70s comments. look at our roster , vorachek read schenn briere simmonds gagne giroux all guys with speed and skill and nothing like the 70s. you can argue simmonds but hes a complete player who does everything. and we got a foreign player vorachek for one of your good old canadian boys and everyone through a fit and hes been the most consistent flyer. and rinaldo when they say hes been consistent he means he shows up to every game plays as hard as he can and does what hes supposed to do game in and gameout unlike giroux who shows up when he wants to — hockey_player_always
- Being a really long time Flyer fan, I have to be honest. If the goal is to win the SC, this team is a disaster. We couldn't beat any team in the East in a seven game series. Please move some vets, gather young players and draft picks, sacrifice a couple more years, amnesty Ilya, and pary the kids grow together. Please get a non Flyer GM, and a coach that does not beleive in constantly chasing the puck for no reason.— JimP
