BOSTON — Zdeno Chara isn’t the reason why the Boston Bruins have lost both games since his return to the lineup after a 19-game absence.
But with the Bruins struggling to score — two goals or fewer in 11 of their last 14 games — the team’s defense and goaltending must play at a higher level to avoid falling too far down the Eastern Conference standings.
“That’s when the defense has to be better,” Chara said. “The first guy, I’m looking at myself. I’ve got to be better and I have to work to be at the top of my game. When you’re not scoring, that means defensively you just have to be better to defend games like this.”
From an individual perspective, Chara has been up-and-down since returning Thursday night against the Chicago Blackhawks.
He’s been a good driver of puck possession, being on the ice for 42 shots attempts for, 27 against at even strength for a plus-15 Corsi. That’s pretty good when you consider he spent most of his even-strength shifts against top-six forwards including Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Brandon Saad and Bobby Ryan.
The B’s captain also has tallied a combined four shots on goal, two blocked shots and a primary assist on Craig Cunningham’s first career NHL goal Saturday.
Chara has taken more penalties than we’re accustomed to seeing, though. He was penalized twice against the Blackhawks, but the Bruins penalty kill stepped up and went 4-for-4.
The B’s weren’t as fortunate against the Senators, who tied the game 2-2 with a David Legwand power-play goal in the third period after an interference penalty by Chara. He’s totaled eight PIM over the last two games, in addition to four turnovers.
“Everywhere, every part of my game,” Chara said when asked which parts of his game need to improve. “There’s no excuses. Like I said after my first game, I missed whatever time, but I have to work very hard to get where I want to be and I will get there.”
It would be unfair to expect any player, even someone as well-conditioned as Chara, to step back into NHL game action and immediately play at a high level following a PCL tear.
Unfortunately for the Bruins, they don’t have much, if any, time to wait. The Florida Panthers’ victory Saturday night moved the Bruins out of the playoff picture, and Boston’s schedule doesn’t get any easier with an upcoming road trip featuring three quality opponents.
“I can be here and talking about how difficult it is, but that’s the way it is,” Chara said. “My job is to get to that performance where I need to be as soon as I can, as quick as I can. It’s coming, but again, it wasn’t because of lack of effort or hard work, just I need to read the plays quicker and make quicker decisions.”
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
