Puck to the face might sideline Chara in Recreation 5
Emily KaplanESPN
ST. LOUIS — The Bruins might be with out captain Zdeno Chara for Recreation 5 after the defenseman took a puck to the face throughout Boston’s Four-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues in Recreation Four of the Stanley Cup Last on Monday night time.
The incident occurred within the second interval. A shot from Blues ahead Brayden Schenn deflected off a stick and struck Chara within the face. The 42-year-old defenseman bled profusely, and blood wanted to be cleaned up on the ice as Chara was helped to the locker room.
Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy mentioned Chara had some stitches and may want some dental work later.
“He needed to come back out on the bench and be together with his teammates — that’s the reason he was on the market,” Cassidy mentioned. “I have no idea his standing for Recreation 5. Clearly, when he will get again house, he’ll must be reevaluated, see how he feels tomorrow for starters.”
Recreation 5 is ready for Thursday night time in Boston. The collection is tied at two video games apiece.
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This is not the primary time Chara has handled an damage this postseason. The 6-foot-9 defenseman missed the clinching Recreation Four of the Japanese Convention finals with an undisclosed damage, however he placed on his uniform and skates to hitch his teammates within the customary handshake line following the competition.
Chara returned to the lineup for the Stanley Cup Last after the workforce had a 10-day layoff between collection.
Chara additionally sustained an damage towards the top of Recreation 1 of the Stanley Cup Last. Chara blocked a shot from Vladimir Tarasenko that injured his wrist. Chara, nevertheless, mentioned it was only a minimize, and he returned to the lineup.
The Bruins already are with out one for his or her high six defensemen; Matt Grzelcyk is within the concussion protocol after being boarded by Oskar Sundqvist in Recreation 2. Grzelcyk has not performed since, although earlier Monday, Cassidy mentioned he’s “higher than he was” and is a candidate to return sooner or later on this collection.
If Chara can’t go for Recreation 5, the Bruins have a number of alternative choices. Cassidy mentioned the plain selection could be veteran Steven Kampfer as a result of he has Stanley Cup playoffs expertise. Kampfer performed one sport within the first spherical towards the Toronto Maple Leafs and one sport within the Japanese Convention finals towards the Carolina Hurricanes, tallying one purpose.
Nevertheless, Kampfer is a right-shot defenseman, and Chara is left. Meaning the workforce additionally will contemplate 20-year-old Urho Vaakanainen (two video games within the common season) or 22-year-old Jeremy Lauzon (16 video games within the common season).