BOSTON — Saturday night’s game was more than merely No. 50 on the Bruins’ 82-game regular season schedule. It was a milestone night for the reunited top defensive pairing of veteran Zdeno Chara and rookie Charlie McAvoy.
Chara, who played for the Islanders and Senators before joining the Bruins as a free agent in 2006-07, appeared in the 1,400th game of his NHL career. McAvoy, who wasn’t born until a month after Chara played his first NHL game, was in the [...]
BOSTON — Saturday night’s game was more than merely No. 50 on the Bruins’ 82-game regular season schedule. It was a milestone night for the reunited top defensive pairing of veteran Zdeno Chara and rookie Charlie McAvoy.
Chara, who played for the Islanders and Senators before joining the Bruins as a free agent in 2006-07, appeared in the 1,400th game of his NHL career. McAvoy, who wasn’t born until a month after Chara played his first NHL game, was in the Bruins’ lineup for the first time since undergoing a procedure to treat an abnormal heart rhythm on Jan. 22.
McAvoy, who turned 20 in December, seemed a little more excited to play the 45th game of his NHL career (not counting the six post-season games in which he appeared last spring) than Chara, who hits 41 next month, was about hitting his own milestone.
“To be back on the ice and ready to go within two weeks … was our goal, and something we thought was attainable,” McAvoy said, “but everything was going to have to line up. It did, and here we are.”
Chara, the Bruins’ ice time leader at 23 minutes, 21 seconds per game (McAvoy is next at 22:48, which leads NHL rookies) and one of only five to play all 50 games, was happy to see his rookie partner return so quickly.
“It’s going to be nice to have him back,” Chara said. “(McAvoy) is a big part of our team. He’s healthy; that’s most important.”
The 6-foot-9, 250-pound Chara, whose in- and off-season training regimens have become legend, sees more milestones ahead.
“I’m going to work hard and continue to play as long as I can. My plan is to play for a long time,” said Chara, who becomes a restricted free agent if his current contract isn’t extended before July 1.
“I appreciate every moment. It goes by fast. It’s very humbling, and I’m very grateful I can play the game I love and enjoy so much for this long.”
Comings and goings
The Bruins, short three forwards with Brad Marchand suspended by the NHL and Noel Acciari and Anders Bjork injured, recalled Austin Czarnik from AHL Providence to play on Saturday against the Maple Leafs. Czarnik, who played six games (one assist) for the B’s in the first month of the season, led the P-Bruins and was sixth in the AHL with 42 points (13 goals, 29 assists) over 38 games.
“I spent a good amount of time (at Providence) and just worked on my game,” said Czarnik, a third-year pro who appeared in his 56th career NHL game on Saturday night. “I’m excited to be back, and get in the lineup.”
Czarnik, who skated Saturday night on a fourth line with former P-Bruins teammates Frank Vatrano and Sean Kuraly, took Peter Cehlarik’s spot on the roster. Cehlarik was recalled on Thursday and played that evening against the Blues, but was sent back to Providence on Friday.
“We won the game and he was part of it, so it’s not a reflection on Peter,” head coach Bruce Cassidy said. “We just feel that he needs to play more hockey.”
Cehlarik, 22, played 10 minutes, 20 seconds against the Blues, usually on a line with veterans Riley Nash and David Backes.
“We balanced how much is he going to play here, and how much is he helping us, vs. playing (at Providence) now and helping us in the future,” Cassidy said. “We just felt it was better for him to play every night (in the AHL).”
Around the boards
Acciari, who has been on and off the ice all week, missed his fifth straight game with a lower body injury, but he did skate on his own before Saturday’s morning skate … Defenseman Kevan Miller, who left in the second period of Thursday’s win with an upper body injury, didn’t play on Saturday and wasn’t on the ice for the second straight day. Cassidy said Miller is day-to-day … Bjork (upper body) missed his second straight game.