Zdeno Chara #33 of the Boston Bruins looks on from the bench during their game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena on February 26, 2011 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Boston won 3-1.Jeff Vinnick
Big Z could a big MIA tonight.
The Boston Bruins confirmed a Boston Herald report that Zdeno Chara, the gigantic captain of the Bruins and their best defenceman, spent the night in hospital after suffering from dehydration late Friday.
Chara took part in a long, very physical and intense practice Friday at Wilmington that had players sweating profusely. Chara, at 6 feeet 9 and 260 pounds is the National Hockey League's largest player.
The Norris Trophy winner is also critical to the team's success, particularly if the Bruins hope to even their best-of-seven Stanley Cup playoff series against the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal won the opener on Thursday 2-0.
There was no word on whether Chara would be playing tonight, but Boston coaches and players appeared optimistic he would be cleared for action.
"Until our medical staff tells us he can't go," he's in, head coach Claude Julien said in a morning press conference.
"They have yet to tell me he can't go."
"He's our leader," said Boston forward Shawn Thornton. "He's a big, big presence for us."
Roy MacGregor