If Zdeno Chara Plays Tonight It’ll Be One of the Greatest Sports Stories In Boston History
Let me stress this. It’ll be one of the greatest sports stories ever… if they win. If you’re reading this, you probably already understand the circumstances surrounding Zdeno Chara and tonight’s game five against the St. Louis Blues in the Stanley Cup Finals. In game four, Chara, the Bruins 42-year-old captain, and first line defenseman took a puck off of his face, knocking all 6’9″ of him to the ground with blood pouring onto the ice.
Ouch. 😷
Zdeno Chara headed straight to the dressing room after taking a puck to the mouth. #StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/q0zZWErwq3
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 4, 2019
Chara exited the game at the end of the period and came back to start the 3rd to at least sit on the bench with a fishbowl of a facemask. He didn’t see the ice, but he was there for moral support to get his teammates ready for an intense ending.
The Bruins ended up dropping the game and now with the series tied 2-2, it was all eyes on Chara and what the diagnosis was going to be. And guess what? We’re talking about a broken jaw, folks. Zdeno Chara is definitely out for the Finals, right? Well… Let’s just say we might be on the verge of one of the greatest stories in Boston sports history.
Zdeno Chara, back on the ice despite taking a puck to the jaw in Game 4 #Captain
(via @NHLBruins) pic.twitter.com/H4LmYAEhzS
— SI NHL (@SI_NHL) June 6, 2019
The Captain. He was on the ice today in preparation for tonight’s game with his teammates. This guy might actually be playing tonight with a broken jaw to help his team win their second Cup since 2011. And now we have reporters saying that he’s been cleared to play.
Sources close to the situation telling me #NHLBruins Zdeno Chara’s jaw is not wired shut, suffered no missing teeth but has brace along bottom gum line. He has been cleared to play.
— Shawn Hutcheon (@ShawnHutcheon) June 6, 2019
If Chara goes out and the Bruins not only win tonight and but win the series, this is going to go down as one of the gutsiest performances of all-time. Is there a chance that he plays and stinks? Yeah, obviously. But regardless, if he’s out there, gives his team this massive morale boost and they play their asses off for him, this decision will be legendary.
There are already so many incredible sports moments in this town and we know we’re spoiled. There’s no way around it. We have the Big Papi 2004 ALCS walk off, the Bobby Orr Finals goal against the Blues and give or take a million more. Chara is close to adding to this legacy of untouchable sports moments in Boston history.
Even if you’re not a hockey fan, tune in. Because this might be a story that is told for a very, very long time. Especially if you’re in Boston. We’re at the point now where the B’s have to take this home for Big Z. He’s laying his body on the line for this thing. Now everybody else needs to step up and get this Cup back and lifted over Chara’s head with the Boston Bruins named Stanley Cup Champions.
Hockey players are like no other breed. The fact that we’re even discussing this possibility is assinine.
-Nick Quaglia (@NickQuag)