Reviews: Chara’s jaw damaged; Bruins eye choices
Greg WyshynskiESPN
ST. LOUIS — Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy mentioned that injured defenseman Zdeno Chara will likely be evaluated in Boston and the group is getting ready in case he cannot go in Sport 5.
Chara took a puck to the face within the second interval of the Bruins’ Sport four loss to the St. Louis Blues on Monday and, in accordance with a number of stories, has a damaged jaw. He dropped to the ice bleeding, and was helped to the locker room. Chara returned with a face defend and sat on the Boston bench for the third interval however didn’t play, per group trainers’ orders.
Ahead Brad Marchand wasn’t stunned to see the group captain on the bench.
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“He is an absolute warrior. If it wasn’t for a health care provider, he would have performed that recreation. He is that type of man who you are going to must kill him to maintain him off,” he mentioned on Tuesday. “He is an absolute chief and people issues, you simply achieve respect for him each single day with what he is keen to undergo to be a part of the group and lead this group. He is an unimaginable particular person.”
Via 20 playoff video games, Chara has a objective and 4 assists with a plus-12. He performed over 24 minutes in Video games 2 and three, however was restricted to simply eight:23 in Sport four, although he did choose up an help on Charlie Coyle’s objective.
If Chara cannot go in Sport 5, Cassidy mentioned it may have a domino impact on the Bruins’ lineup. Boston has been with out defenseman Matt Grzelcyk since Sport 2, when he took successful from behind from Blues ahead Oskar Sundqvist, who was subsequently suspended for one recreation. Grzelcyk did not journey to St. Louis for the final two video games and has been in concussion protocol.
Cassidy mentioned there is a chance that if each cannot go in Sport 5, the Bruins may play seven defensemen and 11 forwards. Among the many defensemen who’re within the combine to be added to the lineup: veteran Steve Kampfer, who has performed in two video games for Boston on this postseason; Jeremy Lauzon, a 22-year-old who performed 16 video games within the common season for Boston; and Urho Vaakanainen, a 20-year-old who performed two video games within the common season for Boston.
“There are completely different belongings you gotta do to help every man lacking. Gryz is extra of a puck mover. How are we going to maneuver the puck higher when he is out of the lineup? Nicely, your forwards must help the puck higher,” mentioned Cassidy. “This matchup isn’t good with Zee out, let’s face it. They are a large, heavy group, so we lose that factor. However another person goes to must step up, and I believe we do it as a gaggle.”
If the Bruins play seven defensemen, it may have an effect on how Cassidy approaches his ahead group. He mentioned he is contemplating a shakeup of strains, specifically to get their second line with David Krejci going. The Bruins middle would not have some extent within the sequence but.
“We have moved [David Pastrnak] in there periodically for a couple of shifts right here and there. Now we have to take a seat down and so they have to vary the way in which they’re taking part in. It hasn’t labored to date to generate offense,” mentioned Cassidy, who cautioned that altering the make-up on one line may have an effect on the chemistry of different strains which are affected. “Drawback with that this time of 12 months is you are to date down the road, the opposite strains have their chemistry. Particularly our backside two strains.”
Chara’s standing is up within the air, nevertheless it’s clear the Bruins are conserving their choices open. Cassidy cautioned to by no means rely an injured participant out at this stage of the postseason.
“It is the Stanley Cup. I believe for each participant, it is to get their title on the Stanley Cup and never let their teammates down,” mentioned Cassidy.