Zdeno Chara Skates Ahead Of Game 5; Bruins Say He’s Game-Time Decision

It’s been just three days since Zdeno Chara reportedly broke his jaw in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, but the Boston Bruins captain already is back on the ice.

Chara missed practice Wednesday, but he was skating with his teammates Thursday at morning skate ahead of Game 5 at TD Garden.

It’s hard to tell in the video, but Chara appeared to be wearing a different helmet/shield combination than what he wore upon returning to the bench after the injury in Game 4. Chara had a full bubble shield protecting his entire face in that game, but the defenseman ditched the full shield for morning skate and instead just had a plastic guard wrapped around the lower part of his helmet to protect his jaw and mouth.

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy said Chara is a game-time decision for the pivotal Game 5.

“The doctor has to give him the green light and then it’s his call,” Cassidy told reporters Thursday morning. “If the doctor doesn’t, then it’s no way.”

Cassidy wouldn’t offer much in the way of specifics when he met with the media Wednesday, but he didn’t sound too optimistic about Chara’s chances of returning. But the defenseman on the ice for morning skate Thursday certainly means it’s at least a possibility.

Chara might not be the only Bruins defenseman returning for Game 5, either. Cassidy said blueliner Matt Grzelcyk is a game-time decision, too. He hasn’t played since leaving Game 2 with a suspected concussion.