After scoring his first goal of the 2020-21 season and his first in a Washington Capitals sweater in a January 28 game against the New York Islanders, the soon-to-be 44-year old defenseman scored his first goal against his longtime club, the Boston Bruins on the first day of February 2021. The goal was Chara’s first against the team he captained to a Stanley Cup in 2011 in almost 15 years.
With just over seven minutes left in the first period, Chara took a puck at the blueline and backpedaled two strides before blistering a slapshot past Bruins goaltender Jaroslav Halak for his second goal of the truncated 2020-21 season on assists from Garnet Hathaway and Nic Dowd.
BIG ZEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
that’s the tweet. pic.twitter.com/0mqKw8aVRa
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 2, 2021
The goal was Chara’s eighth career goal against the Bruins, whom he departed in free agency after 14 seasons (all as captain) in Beantown, signing a one-year deal with the Capitals shortly before the start of training camp. The goal was Chara’s first against the B’s in nearly 15 years, with his last tally against the Bruins coming on April 11, 2006 as a member of the Ottawa Senators, in a game in which he scored a total of two goals, with his second being an overtime winner. Heading into tonight’s game against Boston, Chara had recorded one goal and two assists in nine games played, with a plus-8 rating and an average of 20:32 of ice time for Head Coach Peter Laviolette.
Zdeno Chara scored the Capitals first goal to give the Caps a 1-0 lead. That’s his second goal of the season and his eighth career goal against the Boston Bruins.
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) February 2, 2021
Chara’s goal marked the start of a two-goal first period for the Capitals, with forward Daniel Sprong scoring his second of the season just 11 seconds after Chara’s tally.
By Michael Fleetwood
