The upper body injury that has caused Zac Rinaldo to miss the last three games was the result of referee interference, according to the Boston Bruins winger.
Rinaldo told reporters Monday that he suffered the injury while an official was restraining him following his fight with Edmonton Oilers forward Matt Hendricks last Monday. Rinaldo played the rest of that game but has not suited up since.
“It was after the fight against Hendricks,” the 25-year-old said, via WEEI.com. “The ref jumped on me as I was coming up, and he put me down a little too rough, to be honest. That was that. …
“It’s unfortunate. It was after the fight, too, so there was no need to use that much force like the ref did. I don’t know. You can’t really give the ref (expletive).”
Rinaldo, who was placed on injured reserve last Tuesday, reportedly was a full participant at Monday’s practice and told reporters he is “ready to play” Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. He might get a chance to do just that, as the Bruins will be without suspended forward Max Talbot for the next two games.
Talbot’s two-game ban, which the NHL handed down Monday, was the result of a hit on New Jersey Devils forward Jiri Tlusty that the league deemed “late” and “violent.”
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
