Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Chara says he needs to improve ‘every part’ of his game

Zdeno Chara

Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara (33) reacts during a timeout after the Montreal Canadiens scored their third goal of the game, during the third period in Game 7 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series in Boston, Wednesday, May 14, 2014. The Canadiens won 3-1 to close out the series. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

AP

The Boston Bruins haven’t been able to win in the two games since Zdeno Chara returned from injury, and the big captain told CSNNE.com that he isn’t happy with his own play.

“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,” Chara said. “Every part of my game [needs improvement]. There are 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.”

While the 37-year-old’s possession stats look fine from those two losses, he’s shown rust in certain areas, as CSNNE.com discusses:

Chara has had a few good moments where he looks like the prime defensive stopper that he is, but the four penalties over two games against Chicago and Ottawa clearly also reveal a player that’s behind the speed of the play right now. He’s cheating rather than moving his feet and anticipating the play, and that’s pretty indicative of a player that’s waiting for things to slow down around.

This week presents an interesting test for Chara and the Bruins, who’ve lost two in a row and seven of their last nine games. They face three road games: Tuesday at Nashville, Wednesday at Minnesota and Friday at Winnipeg.

If that run goes poorly, it might be time to get a little concerned.