Though it sounded clear that Max Talbot was not pleased with the two-game suspension he had been given for a hit on Jiri Tlusty in Sunday’s game against the Devils, the forward declined to share his thoughts on Tuesday.

“I have my own opinion on it,’’ said Talbot, who had a phone hearing with the Department of Player Safety on Monday. “I have to respect their decision and I’m going to leave it at that. I’m glad the guy is not hurt and, yeah, I’ll leave it at that.’’

He added, when asked about the hit itself, “I don’t want to get into the particulars of the hit. It’s a tough job they’ve got to do and you’ve got to respect it.’’

Talbot hit Tlusty at 14:30 of the second period. He was not assessed a penalty at the time, but the NHL’s Department of Player Safety took a long look at it, and announced his suspension on Monday.

The suspension length was a bit controversial, given that Talbot has never been given any supplemental discipline — fines or suspensions — in his 11-year career, and said that he’s never had even a close call before now.

Asked if he was surprised at being given two games as a first offender, Talbot said, “Yeah, well, like I said, I have my opinion and I don’t want to go too much into details. I respect it.’’

He later said, “It’s not something you want — I take pride, I think, in playing the game the right way. You never want to be in that situation.’’

In the video explaining the decision, the Department of Player Safety’s Evan Rand called the incident “a late, violent hit,’’ noting that Talbot appeared to crouch before driving his right shoulder up and into Tlusty’s chest and head “well after’’ Tlusty had released the puck.

“What elevates this hit to merit supplemental discipline is its extreme lateness and the predatory nature of the hit,’’ Rand said.

Asked about the discipline, coach Claude Julien said, “I’m going to refrain from commenting on that because, you know, it’s frustrating sometimes to see a player play so well and a situation like that happening and having to miss two games.’’

It was another moment in a trying season for Talbot, who has bounced between Providence and Boston after being waived for the first time before the start of the season. He had been playing well lately, as the Bruins finally began to get some traction with their fourth line, and scored his first goal of the season (and his Bruins career) on Dec. 16 against Pittsburgh.

“That’s the most frustrating thing is that I’m starting to feel a little better on the ice,’’ Talbot said. “I kind of get a rhythm going and then you can’t be out there for two big games and, so you feel like you let your teammates down in that way.’’

Rinaldo returns

Taking Talbot’s place in the lineup is Zac Rinaldo, who came off injured reserve Tuesday after a week on the shelf. Rinaldo was injured after a fight with Edmonton’s Matt Hendricks on Dec.?14, an injury he told reporters Monday was a result of the linesman holding him down after the tussle. Rinaldo said he has needed a week to recuperate from the “strain’’ that occurred, with his legs starting to come back over the last two days.

The fourth-liner has continued to try to fit himself into the Bruins system this year, though it has been rocky at times. Rinaldo had one shot and two hits in 5:45 of ice time against the Blues. He has played in 27 games this season with one goal and one assist and 53 penalty minutes.

“I think I’m getting more familiar, more comfortable with their system and how they do things on the ice and off the ice,’’ Rinaldo said. “I think that helps me in the trust factor that I’m trying to establish with everybody, not just the coaches, but the entire organization, everybody from the players on to everybody else. So I think I’ve done a good job of that, and we’re building that trust back.’’

Said Julien, “To me, Zac probably had a bit of a slow start here trying to fit in. But I think lately he’s been a lot better. Because he’s been better, the line’s been better. And he’s forechecking, he’s making things happen there.

“Again, he’s a guy that stats-wise probably has a little bit more talent than the stats indicate. And I think for him it’s always been a matter of confidence and being able to bring some of those practice things we see into a game situation.’’

Familiar face

Jordan Caron, the Bruins’ first-round draft pick in 2009, made his St. Louis debut on Tuesday at TD Garden against his old team. He had two hits in 9:22 of ice time . . . The Bruins, along with the rest of the NHL, will be off for the next three days for the Christmas break. Boston returns to action quickly, though, with back-to-back games over the weekend against Buffalo at home on Saturday and in Ottawa on Sunday . . . Chris Kelly got an early Christmas present on Tuesday, getting to lose the crutches he’s been using since he sustained a broken left femur on Nov. 3 . . . The Bruins killed the only penalty they took — tripping by Brett Connolly in the second — extending their kill streak to 22 straight . . . The game was the first in which the Bruins did not have a power play this season.

Amalie Benjamin can be reached at abenjamin@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @amaliebenjamin.