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Greg WyshynskiESPN
ST. LOUIS – Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said injured defender Zdeno Chara would be evaluated in Boston and the team was preparing in case he could not play in the fifth game.
Chara suffered a puck in the face during Monday's loss to the St. Louis Blues in Game 4 of the Monday Bluins. According to many reports, he would have the jaw broken. He dropped on the ice bleeding and was helped in the locker room. Chara came back with a face shield and sat on the Boston bench for the third period but did not play, on the order of the coaches of the team.
Striker Brad Marchand was not surprised to see the captain of the team on the bench.
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"He's an absolute warrior." There was no doctor there, he would have played that game. That's what kind of guy he's going to have to kill him with to move him away, "he said Tuesday. "He's an absolute leader and these things you respect every day with that he's ready to live to be part of the group and lead this team." "He's an amazing person . "
After 20 playoff games, Chara scored one goal and collected four assists with a plus-12. He played more than 24 minutes in games 2 and 3, but was limited to 8:23 in match 4, although he did get a goal assist from Charlie Coyle.
If Chara can not play in Game 5, Cassidy said it could have a domino effect on the Bruins' formation. Boston has no more defenseman, Matt Grzelcyk, since the second game. He was struck from behind by Blues striker Oskar Sundqvist, who was later suspended for a match. Grzelcyk has not traveled to St. Louis for the last two games and has been a victim of the concussion protocol.
Cassidy said it was possible that if both players could not participate in the fifth game, the Bruins could face seven defenders and eleven forwards. Among the defensemen on the list of players to add to the lineup: veteran Steve Kampfer, who played two games with Boston during the playoffs; Jeremy Lauzon, a 22-year-old who has played 16 regular season games in Boston; and Urho Vaakanainen, a 20-year-old who has played two regular season games for Boston.
"There are different things you have to do to support each missing player, Gryz is more of a puck coach, how will we improve the puck when he gets out, and your forwards have better to support the puck," said Cassidy. "This game is not good with Zee, let's face it, it's a big and heavy team, so we lose that element, but somebody else will have to intensify things and I think we do it in a group. "
If the Bruins play seven defenders, it could affect how Cassidy approaches his attack group. He said he was considering changing his lines, especially to get their second line with David Krejci. The Bruins center has no point in the series yet.
Chara's status is pending, but it's clear the Bruins keep their options open. Cassidy warned never to count a player injured at this stage of the playoffs.
"It's the Stanley Cup, I guess for every player it's about getting his name on the Stanley Cup and not dropping his teammates," Cassidy said.
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