The Boston Bruins seem all but certain to line up for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final without their captain, Zdeno Chara after he broke his jaw in Game 4.
Taking a puck to his face in Game 4 and then not returning to the ice, though he did return to the bench for moral support all but confirmed the fears of Boston Bruins fans that their captain was injured. For Zdeno Chara not to get back out on the ice, despite injury; someone has told him very specifically that he can’t.
CBS Boston has confirmed a broken jaw was the confirmed diagnosis, but the Boston Bruins remain tight-lipped as to whether they’ll allow their captain to play regardless of the injury.
Though Zdeno Chara is getting on in age and at times looks out of his depth with the pace of the modern NHL; he still plays a key role for the Boston Bruins. By virtue of having an incredible wingspan and long stick to go with it, he is able to make up for the gap difference the speedsters can pull.
Likewise, he provides a calming veteran presence on what is still a quite young Boston Bruins team. Neither of these roles can be understated.
Of course, people look at his $5 million cap hit this season and he is very much overpaid but this is a Boston Bruins team that is comfortably constructed financially and that isn’t a concern. Also, bear in mind he’s on a $2 million deal next year.
The Boston Bruins, excuse the pun, lose a pillar of strength and a degree of intimidation, something much needed in an increasingly intense and physical Stanley Cup Final series. Not only that, the obvious ‘next man up’ is also out of action – Matt Grzelcyk still has no reported return date, in fact we’d not expect to see him again this post-season, if the presumption is that he got concussed on the hit by Oskar Sundqvist.
This all leads to a bit of a dilemma. Last time Zdeno Chara skipped a game; Game 4 of the Eastern Conference final, he was ably replaced by a combination of Matt Grzelcyk and John Moore stepping up a spot on the left side.
This time around, you’re looking at moving Steven Kampfer into the line-up as the next man up despite playing the opposite side. Or do you run with a seventh defenseman, a Urho Vaakanainen or Jeremy Lauzon, and double-shift some of your top-six in the hope of spurring some offense?
That idea has certainly been floated by the Boston Bruins head coach, Bruce Cassidy, so it’s all a matter of playing wait and see.
Either way the Boston Bruins will need to use Zdeno Chara’s absence from their blue line as fuel for the fire when the St. Louis Blues roll into TD Garden on Thursday night.