Chara sees first action and scores
MONTREAL - Last night, for the first time this exhibition season, the Bruins had their captain on the ice.
Zdeno Chara, kept out of the first five games, made his preseason debut at the Bell Centre during the Canadiens' 3-1 victory. Chara was paired with Dennis Wideman and manned the point on the No. 1 power-play unit. As usual, Chara was booed by the Montreal crowd every time the puck was on his stick. In the third period, he scored Boston's goal when he tapped in a backdoor shot on the power play.
"Definitely feels good to be back," Chara said. "I felt all right."
Chara had participated in every practice in training camp, and also skated during informal sessions last month at Ristuccia Arena. He has thrown checks and ripped slap shots in practice. However, the Bruins have been cautious with Chara, who is working his way back from offseason shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum.
"He's good," said coach Claude Julien prior to the game, referring to Chara's health. "Some players are harder on themselves. They want to be 100 percent perfect. I don't think that ever happens with anybody. He is good to go. He wants to go."
Chara, a Norris Trophy finalist last season, will be ready for the season opener against Colorado a week from today. He may need one more exhibition tuneup this weekend, either Saturday at TD Banknorth Garden against the Islanders or Sunday against Washington at the
"Game situations are totally different from practicing," Chara said before the game. "You can only practice so much. You really need to play games."
Wheeler real deal?
Last night might have served as the final preseason audition for Blake Wheeler, the wide-shouldered first-year pro who's making a boldfaced case for an NHL job."It's not up to you who makes the team," said Wheeler before the game. "The best thing you can do is go out there, relax, play hard, and do the things you've done to get yourself here. Whatever happens happens."
It was the fourth exhibition game for Wheeler, who lined up at right wing alongside Milan Lucic and Stephane Yelle. Through three games, Wheeler had one goal and two assists while playing in all situations: even strength, power play, and penalty kill.
If not for Wheeler's lofty $2.825 million cap hit, the 22-year-old would be considered a near certainty to make the big league roster. But the Bruins projected him to start the season in Providence. So to make room for Wheeler and add some additional cap flexibility, the Bruins might have to move another hefty salary: the $2.1 million earmarked for Peter Schaefer. Given Schaefer's salary and drop-off last season, the winger doesn't have much of a trade market, so he could be placed on waivers and assigned to Providence if he clears.
Fernandez starts
Manny Fernandez made his second start of the preseason. Fernandez, who lives in Montreal during the offseason, was scheduled to start last Friday against Detroit but was injured (thumb, middle finger) during warm-ups. He was especially sharp in the first period last night, stopping all 11 Montreal shots. He finished the game with 24 saves, giving up three power-play goals in the second."I felt all right," said Fernandez. "There are definitely some ups and downs in my game that I have to correct. But I wanted to have a strong first period. I did that. I have to say I'm not happy with how I came out in the second period, but bad bounces. I think I have to work on staying focused for more than one period and try to stay relatively strong the whole game."
Fernandez is projected to be the backup to Tim Thomas against Colorado, even though Tuukka Rask has been the best goalie in camp. Fernandez could be assigned to Providence to start the season and see some game action. But the Bruins would run the risk of losing him on reentry waivers at half his $4.333 million cap hit.
"He was very good tonight," said Julien. "I think that's extremely encouraging. He played the whole game and looked good from start to finish. With those power-play goals, there's not much you can do about it. I thought he was really, really good tonight. There's no reason to think that we can't make him even better. There are still some areas, with playing time, where he should be getting better. Definitely positive and encouraging news."
Cuts coming
The Bruins are expected to make two more rounds of cuts to get down to the 23-man maximum prior to the opener. Jeff Penner, Matt Lashoff, Martin St. Pierre, and Rask should be among the first sent to Providence, possibly today . . . Ex-Canadien Michael Ryder, playing at the Bell Centre for the first time as a former Hab, was booed every time he touched the puck.