The Boston Bruins were dealt a major blow in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final Monday night when Zdeno Chara left with an injury and was unable to return, and Brad Marchand says the captain would have come back if doctors allowed it.
Chara took a puck to the face after blocking a shot early in the second period of Boston’s 4-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues. He was bleeding from the mouth and skated off the ice into the dressing room. The 42-year-old later returned to the bench wearing a full fishbowl mask, but he never got back onto the ice.
According to Marchand, Chara wanted to get back into the game but had to follow doctor’s orders.
Marchand on Chara: "If it wasn't for the doctor, he would've played that game. He's that kind of guy that you're going to have to kill him to keep him off. He's an absolute leader and those things you gain respect for him every single day with what he's willing to go through."
— Joe McDonald (@JoeyMacHockey) June 4, 2019
While the Bruins have not specified, it sounds like Chara may have suffered a broken jaw. His status for Game 5 is uncertain. Chara has taken a beating in the playoffs this year, as he also missed Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final with a lower body injury and suffered a bloody wrist while blocking a shot earlier in the series against St. Louis.
The Bruins may still be without defenseman Matt Grzelcyk in Game 5, as he has been out since suffering a head injury on an illegal check in Game 2. If neither Chara nor Grzelcyk can play, Boston will have its hands full defensively.
