Bruins' Zdeno Chara doesn't want to let a broken jaw stop him from playing
Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara is undeniably one of the toughest on the ice, and for plenty of hockey players, it takes more than a little blood or even stitches to keep them from playing. But after taking a puck to the face in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Monday, he’s a game-time decision for Game 5 in Boston on Thursday.
During the second period of Game 4 — which the St. Louis Blues won 4-2 and tied the series up at two games apiece — a shot from Blues center Brayden Schenn was deflected and nailed Chara in the face. The 42-year-old defenseman went down immediately, and blood trickled down his chin as he skated off the ice.
He returned to the bench for the third period wearing a protective mask, but he didn’t play. He reportedly has a broken jaw.
Chara participated in the team’s morning skate Thursday, and according to NHL.com’s Dan Rosen, he only took a couple questions from the media and had to answer them in “written form because talking his difficult” at the moment.
If he does, in fact, have a broken jaw, it makes a lot of sense that he’s struggling to talk. After Game 4, Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said he got some stitches and is likely going to need “some dental work in the near future.”
Cassidy said, via NHL.com, doctors have the first say in whether or not Chara can play Thursday, and if they clear him, the decision belongs to the elder player.
However, based on Boston center Brad Marchand’s comments about Chara about returning to the bench in Game 4 make it seem like if Chara is cleared by doctors, he will 100 percent be back on the ice in Game 5 at TD Garden. Via ESPN:
“He’s an absolute warrior. If it wasn’t for a doctor, he would have played that game. He’s that kind of guy who you’re going to have to kill him to keep him off,” Marchand said Tuesday. “He’s an absolute leader, and those things, you just gain respect for him every single day with what he’s willing to go through to be part of the group and lead this team. He’s an incredible person.”
This isn’t even the first time Chara bled on the ice in this series. In Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, in a peculiar accident, he took a puck to the arm, and it was hard enough that it tore his arm open.