Boston Bruins winger Reilly Smith had some friendly advice for his older brother after Sunday’s 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings.
The matchup was a physical affair, highlighted by Red Wings defenseman Brendan Smith’s laughable attempts to engage Bruins blueliner Zdeno Chara as the first period expired.
At 6-foot-9, Chara has 8 inches on Brendan Smith (6-foot-1), and the Bruins big man responded to his opponent’s advances with little more than a laugh, a few jabs and the frightening smile captured in the photo above. That, Reilly Smith said after the game, probably was for the best.
“(Chara) wouldn’t be the first guy I’d choose in the NHL to go against,” Smith said, according to Boston.com. “(Brendan) should probably think twice next time.”
“I don’t think Chara’s too worried about squaring off against my brother,” Smith continued, via the Detroit Free Press. “Probably not the smartest decision he’s ever made.”
Chara isn’t the only Bruin with whom Brendan Smith has an issue. He apparently isn’t too fond of antagonistic B’s winger Brad Marchand, either.
“Reilly’s brother seems to be playing against our line a lot,” Marchand said before Sunday’s game. “He’s on my side a lot, too, so I’m up against him quite a bit. … I’ve got the inside scoop that he doesn’t like me very much.”
Boston’s win tied the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series at one game apiece. The series shifts to Detroit for Game 3 on Tuesday.
If you missed the Chara-Smith exchange the first time, check it out in the video below.
