BROOKLYN, N.Y. — After watching Zac Rinaldo charge Sean Couturier in Wednesday’s 5-4 overtime loss, it appeared that the former Flyer would relive his haunted past with the NHL safety department handing him supplemental discipline.

Watching the replay, Rinaldo did not leave his feet nor did he target Couturier’s head. The live reaction was a lot worse than the hit indicated.

Still, Rinaldo’s reputation earned him a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. The call was certainly warranted after Rinaldo took a few steps towards Couturier after sending the puck up ice in the final seconds of the first period.

As for the call from the NHL Safety Department, that was right too.

“It is important to note that while Rinaldo has an extensive history of supplemental discipline, that history only comes back into play after it is determined that the determined that a check is worthy of supplemental discipline,” the league said in a video statement (which you can watch below). “The hit itself is evaluated on its own merits and not on the player delivering the check.”

Rinaldo deservingly escaped discipline on this one. But that should indeed be a warning going forward for him given his reputation and he may not escape the next round if he indeed delivers another borderline hit to an opponent.

The 25-year old has spoken at length from the time he got to Boston on how he was going to change his ways. He echoed those sentiments again after the Bruins’ morning skate on Friday at the Barclays Center.

“Player safety does a really good job at handling these situations,” Rinaldo said prior to the Bruins’ matchup with the Islanders. “So my hats off to them and I’m going to stay within the rules.”

Although Rinaldo said he didn’t have a discussion with the NHL about this incident, the league did contact him and discussed different scenarios from what was considered borderline hits to going completely over the edge.

But what about the message from head coach Claude Julien?

“I think you guys know the answer to that,” said the ninth-year Bruins bench boss about having discussions with Rinaldo about drawing the fine line. “If there’s a conversation, it will stay in our dressing room.”

For a guy who has lost 14 career games due to suspension, keeping the conversations in the locker room may not be a bad idea.