Bruins' Rinaldo suspended 5 games for headshot on Lightning's Paquette

Boston Bruins forward Zac Rinaldo has been issued a five-game suspension from the NHL's Department of Player Safety for an illegal check to the head of Tampa Bay Lightning center Cedric Paquette.

The NHL cited Rinaldo's lengthy suspension history, and ultimately deemed that Paquette's head - the principal point of contact - was avoidable in his attempt to separate the Lightning center from the puck last Sunday.

Rinaldo has since been sent to the American Hockey League's Providence Bruins, so it will be up to the minor-league outfit to uphold the suspension.

He's now accrued 19 games in suspension from four separate incidents in parts of six seasons since making it to the NHL, as Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe points out.

He will forfeit nearly $52,000 as a result of his latest ban.