Zdeno Chara was booed every time he touched the puck Friday night at Nassau Coliseum, believed to be the first time he's been given that treatment in nearly 10 years since he was traded away in the Alexei Yashin deal in the summer of 2001.
The former Islanders defenseman avoided suspension from the NHL - but still possibly faces criminal charges in Montreal - for his hit Tuesday night that hospitalized Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty. Chara's 5-on-3 goal in the second period gave Boston a two-goal lead, but the Isles fought back for a 4-2 decision to improve to 4-0-2 in their last six games.
Matt Moulson (29th) and rookie Michael Grabner (28th) moved closer to the 30-goal plateau with scores bridging the final two periods, before Jack Hillen's left-point shot bounded in off Boston defenseman Dennis Seidenberg to snap a 2-2 tie 5:58 into the third. The Isles are 22-14-5 in their last 41 games and 10 points behind the Rangers for the eighth playoff spot in the East.
Chara had addressed the Pacioretty incident before and after Thursday's overtime loss to Buffalo, but he replied "we are done with that" when asked about it following Friday's morning skate. Pacioretty, who since has been released from the hospital, suffered a concussion and a fractured vertebra when checked by the Boston captain into a stanchion at one of the bench openings Tuesday night.
Islanders enforcer Trevor Gillies has been suspended for a total of 19 games over the past month for separate blows to the heads of opponents, but coach Jack Capuano didn't seem to mind that the 6-foot-9 Chara avoided further NHL discipline.
"I don't think Chara went out of his way to hurt him, but that's for the league to decide," Capuano said. "The league does a good job handing out things. The discipline we went through was a process, and you have to live with what they decide."
Pacioretty said he was "disappointed" Chara wasn't suspended, before adding he has "no desire for Chara to be prosecuted legally," and that "the incident, as ugly as it was, was part of a hockey game."
Chara's hit remains the focal point of a possible police investigation in Quebec, as well as the source of threats by Air Canada and Via Rail to withdraw sponsorships from the NHL.
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