The eagerly anticipated rematch between the Bruins and Canadiens went almost two periods without the type of controversy seen the Feb. 9 game at TD Garden which featured 189 penalty minutes. Then, Zdeno Chara checked Max Pacioretty.
Late in the second period, the Bruins defenseman ran the Canadiens forward into the exposed glass that separates the the two benches. Pacioretty’s hit slammed into the the divider, and he fell to the ice instantly.
Pacioretty lay motionless face-down on the ice for a few moments before being lifted onto a stretcher and wheeled off the ice. He appeared to be unconscious for some time, but appeared to have his eyes opened before being lifted onto a stretcher.
The Canadiens announced that Pacioretty was taken to the hospital where he was conscious and was able to move his arms and legs.
Chara was given a 5-minute major penalty for interference, as well as a game misconduct.
Pacioretty, of course, was the Canadien that scored the game-winning goal against the Bruins on Jan. 8 in a come-from-behind win for Montreal at the Bell Centre. Following that goal, Pacioretty bumped Chara as he skated by. Chara went after Pacioretty, inciting a small scrum.
