Jaffe: No Reason Bruins Can't Go Above .500 Until Chara Returns
BOSTON (CBS) - The Bruins are preparing to play their second game without Zdeno Chara in the lineup, the Bruins' top defenseman sidelined for the next 4-6 weeks with a left knee injury.
Chara is the team's captain, routinely plays the most minutes and sets the tone for the Black and Gold. His absence will no doubt be felt, but one injury all of a sudden doesn't make the Bruins the Florida Panthers.
Without Chara, NESN's Billy Jaffe believes the Bruins can stay afloat and hit their stride later in the year as the playoffs approach.
"If they can play like they did in Toronto, they can absolutely expect to be above a .500 team. There's no reason they can't. Especially, and no disrespect to their opponents over the next seven, eight games, they can bank a few wins out of that. If they go back to the Bruins of the inconsistency and the defensive lapses, then you're seeing a .500 team. The good news is it's early enough in the season. You don't want to go under .500. So you stay at .500, make it through this and hopefully rise up."
It's not the end of the world if you don't win the Presidents' Trophy. Finding your team throughout the season and not peaking too soon has worked for the Kings in recent years.
"The L.A. Kings weren't great last year. In fact, the last two years they won the Cup they weren't good in the regular season. They worked their way to the point of really turning it on and peaking at the right time," said Jaffe. "The Bruins don't need to peak right now. They don't need to win every game. They need to play good hockey, win enough games, keep themselves in it, hopefully get Zdeno back and take off as the year progresses."
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