Injured Detroit Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg received some unexpected assistance on his way home from the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Zetterberg told reporters Tuesday that upon returning to the United States from Sochi, Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara — who represented Slovakia during the games — insisted on giving him a hand with his bags.
“Chara is the guy who helped me with my bag from the Olympics,” the Red Wings captain said, via the Detroit Free Press. “He’s a part of this rehab.
“When we flew home from the Olympics, I was walking out and I had a backpack with me. He said, ‘No, you’re not carrying that.’ And he carried it for me.”
A back injury limited Zetterberg to one game for Team Sweden, and the 33-year-old veteran suited up for Detroit since the NHL season resumed. His Wings will meet Chara’s Bruins in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs beginning this Friday, but it remains unlikely that Zetterberg will see action in the series.
“We were shooting for Round 2, and that’s still the plan,” he said after practice Tuesday.
A first-round return for Zetterberg has not been completely ruled out, though, Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said Monday, especially with the series getting off to a late start.
Zetterberg, who underwent surgery on Feb. 21, skated Tuesday and expects to practice with the team Thursday.
