If Zdeno Chara is somehow able to play in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final on Thursday, the Boston Bruins captain will be showing an unthinkable amount of toughness.
Chara is dealing with a significant jaw injury that he suffered when a puck hit him in the face during the second period of Game 4 on Monday night. He is considered a game-time decision for Game 5, but we got a glimpse into the severity of the injury when he had to give written responses to questions from the media on Thursday. The 42-year-old is unable to open his mouth or speak, but he said — or wrote — that he will not be thinking about injuring himself further if doctors clear him to play.
Zdeno Chara answered two questions in written form because talking his difficult for him now: pic.twitter.com/WxrobJ5ZFi
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) June 6, 2019
All indications are that Chara will play if he can get clearance. It remains to be seen how effective he will be, as you have to wonder about things like him being able to eat or sleep if he can’t even open his mouth. With the Bruins dealing with an injury to another key defender after an illegal check in Game 2, you have to believe Chara is going to do everything in his power to be on the ice.
