Productive week for Z
BRUINS NOTEBOOK
PHILADELPHIA — Zdeno Chara returned from a nine-game injury hiatus for yesterday’s game against the Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Bruins defenseman had an eventful week despite being out with an upperbody injury. General manager Don Sweeney tendered Chara a one-year contract extension on Wednesday.
Chara logged 21:14 minutes, skated 24 shifts, took five shots, had two hits and was pleased with his effort and the team’s third-period comeback in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Flyers.
“It was a pretty good up-and-down game,” said Chara. “It was nice to be back playing and be part of it and be back in the action.
“It was one of those things where you get back into it early on and you have to keep moving your feet and moving the puck, and (those kinds) of things come back quickly.”
Chara was paired with defenseman Nick Holden for most of the game, both on 5-on-5 play and on the penalty kill. Holden played 19:18 minutes, skated 25 shifts and was credited with a hit.
In stitches
Coach Bruce Cassidy said center Riley Nash needed more than 40 stitches to close a cut around his ear. Nash was the victim of friendly fire when he caught a puck off the stick of defenseman Torey Krug in Saturday’s 5-1 win over the Panthers at the Garden.
“Nash had 40-plus stitches inside his ear and outside his ear and on his head area,” said Cassidy. “Right now he would have a tough time getting his helmet on and he may join us on the trip.”
Awaiting word
Still no official word from the Bruins on the status of defenseman Brandon Carlo, who suffered what appeared to be a serious leg injury when he crumbled awkwardly in the corner of the defensive zone at 10:28 of the third period Saturday.
“A lot of swelling, so I can’t give you a definitive timetable on his injury or what exactly they are going to do today,” said Cassidy. “He did not travel, and looking at the video it is probably not going to be good news.”
In more medical news, Cassidy said Charlie McAvoy continues to progress and could be in the lineup against the Lightning tomorrow in Tampa. McAvoy has missed 15 games with a sprained MCL in his left knee. Rick Nash (upper body) is working out and could be back for the playoffs.
Angry Anton
Goalie Anton Khudobin was irate with himself for allowing Flyers sniper Claude Giroux’s overtime breakaway goal with 1:21 to play in the extra frame.
“It was a breakaway tough shot and we lost the game and I couldn’t stop the breakaway and stuff like that,” said Khudobin, who made 20 saves and is now 15-6-7 of the season.
“You have to find the way, that’s the bottom line. We still get the point but losing sucks.”
Khudobin was beaten early by Giroux on an uncontested shot from the right dot in the first, an amazing individual effort by Travis Konecny 25 seconds into the second and a clean breakaway by Nolan Patrick in the third. He also stoned Konecny on breakaway.