Boston Bruins: Two players who must step up for Zdeno Chara against Capitals

How will the Boston Bruins make up for the loss of Zdeno Chara against the Washington Capitals?

The Boston Bruins, after three straight losses at home, now face the daunting task of a matchup with the Washington Capitals. To make matters worse, the Bruins will play without Zdeno Chara for the first time this season.

Chara will miss the game against Washington as he undergoes a procedure to deal with an infection from a broken jaw. If you remember, Chara broke his jaw in the Stanley Cup Final against the Blues.

According to coach Bruce Cassidy, Chara should only miss one game. He’ll return at the end of the week after the holiday break.

Nonetheless, Chara’s loss is a big one for Boston, especially with the Capitals in town. How will the Bruins handle Washington without Chara in the lineup?

Look for John Moore to start on the left side with Charlie McAvoy

Chara played almost exclusively this season on the left side next to Charlie McAvoy. There are a few different options to replace Chara on the top pair, but John Moore looks like the first choice.

Moore lined up next to McAvoy during Sunday’s practice, an indication that he’ll be there to start the game against Washington. Moore last played in Boston’s overtime loss to the Kings.

Because of offseason shoulder surgery, Moore only played six games this year. He looked decent out there, but he certainly needs to elevate his game alongside McAvoy. Moore also needs to adjust to increased ice time; so far, he only averages a little under 15 minutes per game.

In key moments, don’t be surprised if Cassidy puts Matt Grzelcyk on the top pair with McAvoy. Grzelcyk and McAvoy played together at times this year, so there should be a level of comfort. He can’t replace Chara, but Grzelcyk is the best option when Chara’s out of the lineup.

Brando Carlo must dominate on the penalty kill

To stop the Capitals, the Bruins need to be strong on the penalty kill. Washington’s power play currently has a 21.8% success rate, which is above the league average. The Capitals had a power play goal in the last meeting against Boston.

Chara usually mans Boston’s top penalty-killing unit with Brandon Carlo. With Chara out, Carlo really must step up his game and make his presence felt while a man down.

Expect Carlo to be up to the challenge for the Bruins. He usually finishes games first or second in shorthanded time on ice, so he’s used to the extended pressure. He needs to play a mistake-free game to give Boston a chance against Washington.

The Capitals are always a tough matchup for the Bruins. That’ll certainly be the case on Monday, especially with Chara out of the lineup. The Bruins need a total team effort to close out the homestand with a victory.