LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — It's been a whirlwind week for Zdeno Chara, but you wouldn't know it from the tight-lipped Bruins captain.
Chara was forced to miss Game 2 of the Bruins' opening-round series with Montreal after being hospitalized for dehydration, but returned to lead the Bruins in ice time as Boston got back into the series with a 4-2 win in Montreal on Monday.
That game also marked Chara's first return to Montreal since his controversial hit on Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty on March 8, and Chara was greeted by a loud chorus of boos from the Bell Centre faithful every time he touched the puck.
Chara downplayed the significance of returning to the scene of what at least some in Montreal would like to refer to as a crime, as a criminal investigation into Chara's hit on Pacioretty does remain open.
"I did approach it just like any other game," Chara said after the Bruins wrapped up practice at the USA Rink at the Lake Placid Olympic Center on Wednesday before heading back to Montreal. "I don't see why I should change."
Chara added that the booing had little effect on his game.
"It's been like that for years," Chara said. "I just play and try to focus on the game."
Dennis Seidenberg, who was paired with Chara on Boston's top defensive pairing on Monday, agreed.
"He's been through that the last few years, so I don't think that bothers him anymore," Seidenberg said. "Not much bothers him."
Playing without Chara in the lineup, however, did bother the Bruins in Game 2, and Seidenberg was certainly happy to have the big guy back on the blue line.
"It's pretty easy to play with him," Seidenberg said. "He's big, takes a lot of space up. It's fun."
The weekend wasn't much fun for Chara with his bout of dehydration, but he is on the mend.
"I'm feeling much better," Chara said on Wednesday, without going into further details about his condition.
Seidenberg was more graphic in describing what his teammate had endured.
"When you saw him the day they pulled him out of the game, he looked like he was going to die any second," Seidenberg said. "But I think he's totally recovered and he looks fine to me."
