Zdeno Chara Named NHL’s Second Star of the Week After Compiling Seven Assists for Division Champion Bruins

The Bruins clinched their third Northeast Division title in the past four seasons on Sunday night, and perhaps no player has been more important to that success than Zdeno Chara.

The Bruins captain was named the NHL's Second Star of the Week this week after racking up seven assists in Boston's four games. That left him tied for the league lead in that category.

Three of Chara's assists came on Tuesday night, when the defenseman was honored at TD Garden for appearing in 1,000 career NHL games.

Chara has 12-40-52 totals in 77 games this season, collecting his 40th assist of the season during Sunday's division-clinching victory over the Rangers. The 40 assists and 52 points are new career highs for the 35-year-old defenseman.

Chara won the Norris Trophy following the 2008-09 season as the league's top defenseman, and he could be in line to make a run at the award once again.

Wayne Simmonds of the Flyers earned the league's First Star of the Week honors this week, while Coyotes goalie Mike Smith was named the Third Star.