Zac Rinaldo had a reason to look forward to Wednesday night. The Bruins were facing his former team, the Flyers, and Rinaldo was hoping that his progression from escaping his past disciplinary problems would continue.

That did not happen.

It didn’t take long for Rinaldo’s past to haunt him just six games into his Bruins career. The former Flyer served a game misconduct after charging Sean Couturier in the B’s zone during the end of the first period. Philly would get a five-minute power play to start the middle stanza, but could not convert. The Bruins actually had the better scoring chances on the Flyer’s power play then they did.

Although Rinaldo did not leave his feet or contact the head area to deliver his body check on Couturier, who left the with an upper body injury, the reckless hit was certainly unwarranted. Intentional or not, Rinaldo served his time Wednesday night.

“I saw the puck coming around the boards and I thought he still had full control of the puck, and I just tried to deliver a body check, Rinaldo said about his actions. “That was about it.”

Was Rinaldo surprised that he got ejected?

“Yes and no. Different refs have different opinions on things, maybe,” he said after Wednesday’s 5-4 overtime loss. “It’s unfortunate that he’s hurt. That’s the last thing that I want to do is to hurt someone, and during the game that’s not my first priority at all. Especially someone that I know personally. So that was the last thing on my mind was to hurt him.”

Regarldess, Rinaldo faces potential discipline for his actions.

According to Joe Haggerty of CSNNE.com, the NHL Department of Player Safety spent time Wednesday reviewing Rinaldo’s hit. As of now, no hearing has been scheduled for the fourth line forward, but given his reputation, he has a rightful concern of facing potential discipline.

“Oh yeah, for sure I am. You were about to say my history and stuff like that,” said Rinaldo, who lost 14 career games to suspension. “But like I said, I thought I did the best I can to stay within the rules and deliver a clean body check.”

Following their come from behind overtime win, the Flyers were in no mood to discuss Rinaldo’s hit. Instead, Wayne Simmonds, Claude Giroux, Steve Mason and first-year coach Dave Hakstol directed their attention to their effort following the come from behind win.

Even Claude Julien didn’t want to get into details.

“He was given a five and I respect the referee’s decision,” said the ninth-year Bruins bench boss.

In the off-season, Rinaldo, knowing he has crossed the fine line on a few occasions, was hoping that things would change for the better. This is what he said in his first meeting with the Boston media back in July:

[quote_box]“It’s going to change in a better way for the team. I don’t plan on getting suspended. The last thing I want to do is plan on taking stupid penalties; that’s the last thing I want to do is to hurt my team. Changing for the better will happen. More opportunity, a better role perhaps and I’m open to doing anything to help the team win.”[/quote_box]

Even with a new team and a meeting last week with the NHL over borderline hits, Zac Rinaldo’s past caught up to him.