{"id":1311002,"date":"2019-06-04T18:36:00","date_gmt":"2019-06-05T00:36:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/with-chara-hurt-bruins-need-help-on-d-in-stanley-cup-game-5\/"},"modified":"2019-06-04T18:36:00","modified_gmt":"2019-06-05T00:36:00","slug":"with-chara-hurt-bruins-need-help-on-d-in-stanley-cup-game-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/local-news\/with-chara-hurt-bruins-need-help-on-d-in-stanley-cup-game-5\/","title":{"rendered":"With Chara hurt, Bruins need help on D in Stanley Cup Game 5"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery\" readability=\"6.8236434108527\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-979972-423\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_47061-c4f91-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_47061-c4f91.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | AP | Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33), of Slovakia, is helped off the ice after getting hit in the face with the puck during the second period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues Monday, June 3, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo\/Jeff Roberson)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"14\">\n<p><strong>Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33), of Slovakia, is helped off the ice after getting hit in the face with the puck during the second period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues Monday, June 3, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo\/Jeff Roberson)<\/strong><br \/>AP | AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_47061-c4f91.jpg\" alt=\"Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33), of Slovakia, is helped off the ice after getting hit in the face with the puck during the second period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues Monday, June 3, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo\/Jeff Roberson)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_47061-c4f91-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_47061-c4f91-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Scott Kane\/AP | FR171020 AP | Boston defenseman Zdeno Chara kneels on the ice after being hit in the face by the puck during the second period on Monday.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Boston defenseman Zdeno Chara kneels on the ice after being hit in the face by the puck during the second period on Monday.<\/strong><br \/>Scott Kane\/AP | FR171020 AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_47061-c4f91-1.jpg\" alt=\"Boston defenseman Zdeno Chara kneels on the ice after being hit in the face by the puck during the second period on Monday.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_47061-c4f91-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_47061-c4f91-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | AP | Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara, of Slovakia, lies on the ice after getting hit in the face with the puck during the second period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues Monday, June 3, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo\/Jeff Roberson)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"14\">\n<p><strong>Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara, of Slovakia, lies on the ice after getting hit in the face with the puck during the second period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues Monday, June 3, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo\/Jeff Roberson)<\/strong><br \/>AP | AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_47061-c4f91-2.jpg\" alt=\"Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara, of Slovakia, lies on the ice after getting hit in the face with the puck during the second period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues Monday, June 3, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo\/Jeff Roberson)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_47061-c4f91-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_47061-c4f91-3.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"AP | FR171020 AP | Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33), of Slovakia, leaves the ice after being hit in the face by the puck during the second period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues Monday, June 3, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo\/Scott Kane)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"14\">\n<p><strong>Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33), of Slovakia, leaves the ice after being hit in the face by the puck during the second period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues Monday, June 3, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo\/Scott Kane)<\/strong><br \/>AP | FR171020 AP<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/Stanley_Cup_Bruins_Blues_Hockey_47061-c4f91-3.jpg\" alt=\"Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33), of Slovakia, leaves the ice after being hit in the face by the puck during the second period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues Monday, June 3, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo\/Scott Kane)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/sports\/with-chara-hurt-bruins-need-help-on-d-in-stanley-cup-game-5\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/sports\/with-chara-hurt-bruins-need-help-on-d-in-stanley-cup-game-5\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">BEDFORD, Mass. \u2014 The Boston Bruins reached the Stanley Cup Final despite a run of regular-season injuries that prevented anyone on the roster from playing all 82 games.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Now comes the real test.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The Bruins are preparing for Game 5 against the St. Louis Blues without captain and No. 1 defenseman Zdeno Chara, who did not return after he was hit in the face by a deflected puck on Monday night. The St. Louis Blues won 4-2 to even the series at two games apiece.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy offered no update on Chara\u2019s condition after arriving in Boston on Tuesday except to say the 2009 Norris Trophy winner was on his way to see a doctor. The fact that Chara returned for the third period wearing a full face shield \u2014 and never got back on the ice \u2014 suggests it is more than the lost tooth or busted lip that usually only keeps a hockey player out long enough to get it stitched up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cRight now, I\u2019ve got nothing,\u201d Cassidy said. \u201cBut we don\u2019t play for two more days.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Although the 42-year-old Chara is the team\u2019s elder statesman and emotional leader, Cassidy said he is less worried about Chara\u2019s leadership than his 6-foot-9 presence on the ice.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cTaking great players out of the lineup, that\u2019s the part that hurts the most,\u201d Cassidy said. \u201cI\u2019m not worried about our mentality.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The Bruins have made it through the playoffs without defenseman Kevan Miller and also lost Matt Grzelcyk when he took an elbow to the head in Game 2 and needed to be helped off the ice. John Moore filled in for him in the third game, which the Bruins won.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">But they were down to five men on the blue line again Monday night when Chara took a deflected shot from Brayden Schenn off the right side of the face. He crumpled to the ice, face-first, and then skated off, with blood dripping from his mouth. He returned at the start of the third wearing the shield but never went back in the game.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cVery uncomfortable, was advised not to return to play,\u201d Cassidy said after the game. \u201cHad some stitches, probably some dental work in the near future. He wanted to come out on the bench and be with his teammates.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">His teammates knew how difficult it was for him to just sit there.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cHe\u2019s our leader, and the biggest part of our leadership,\u201d forward David Pastrnak said. \u201cAnything that comes out of his mouth \u2026 everybody is listening to him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Blues coach Craig Berube said he had a broken jaw when he was a player and was out six weeks. But if Chara has the same injury and misses the rest of the series, it won\u2019t change the Blues\u2019 approach.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cNothing from our standpoint,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">A six-time All-Star and the perennial team leader in minutes played, Chara played a career-low (not counting lockout years) 62 games this season because of an unspecified injury that kept him out six weeks in November and December.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Although it\u2019s too early to rule him out for Game 5 \u2014 or perhaps longer \u2014 Cassidy said the most likely replacements would be Steven Kampfer or rookies Urho Vaakanainen, Jeremy Lauzon, and Jakub Zboril. Only Kampfer, with two games of playoff experience, has appeared in a postseason game.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIf both guys (Chara and Grzelcyk) are out, it\u2019s not an easy decision,\u201d Cassidy said. \u201cIt\u2019s not one I want to make, but you have to do what you have to do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">But don\u2019t rule them out just yet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cBoth of those players, they\u2019re warriors,\u201d defenseman Charlie McAvoy said. \u201cThey\u2019ll do whatever it takes to play.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">More AP NHL: <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/NHL\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/apnews.com\/NHL<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AP%E2%80%94Sports\" rel=\"nofollow\">https:\/\/twitter.com\/AP\u2014Sports<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/sports\/with-chara-hurt-bruins-need-help-on-d-in-stanley-cup-game-5\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: Post Independent<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33), of Slovakia, is helped off the ice after getting hit in the face with the puck during the second period of Game 4 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final against the St. Louis Blues Monday, June 3, 2019, in St. Louis. (AP Photo\/Jeff Roberson)AP | AP Boston defenseman [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[160],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1311002","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-18 13:37:43","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSKE Ski Country","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1311002","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1311002"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1311002\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1311002"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1311002"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1311002"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}